Streamlined menus, off-premises foodservice, and blended and/or bundled meals are among the National Restaurant Association’s top trends for 2021. Last year was the industry’s worst year in history, but many restaurants were able to persevere by adapting and innovating their operations.
Meal kits and subscriptions occupied the fifth and sixth spots on the list, followed by restaurants pivoting to grocery sales, alcohol to-go, comfort foods, and healthy/diet-specific foods.
“Many of the innovations deployed not only helped keep restaurants afloat in 2020, they also signal the trends shaping 2021,” said the NRA in a statement. “We now know that three things are certain: the pandemic tested the limits of operator creativity and knowhow, accelerated tech adoption and emerging trends, and confirmed that customers sorely miss their restaurant experiences.”
In addition, the NRA shared what food items were popular for both fullservice and limited service restaurants. Pizza, burgers, sandwiches/subs/wraps, Mexican food, seafood, chicken, and breakfast items made both lists, while steak, pasta, and chicken wings were more popular among fullservice restaurants and ice cream/cookies/cake, baked goods, and barbecue were more popular with limited service establishments.
Related: Restaurant Industry Loses 372,000 Jobs in December; Pandemic Trends Carry into 2021.
Image: National Restaurant Association