The year is coming to a close, and 2022 has been a great year for new ideas in food service and restaurant technology. Restaurants have persevered through so many challenges these last few years and are eagerly looking ahead to next year and ways they can use what they have learned to continue serving their customers well. So what trends should we be on the lookout for in 2023?
Dining experience looks like it will be a priority for many customers. People have missed their social outings and are looking for places to gather with their friends and make connections. Restaurants have already begun meeting this need by creating dining spaces targeted towards large groups as well as space for those seeking a cozy date night. Customers want to have a unique outing and are wanting more than just good food, but a beautifully designed space to share with their people. We have already started to see this trend take off and it seems that 2023 will have even more restaurants creating aesthetically alluring spaces for customers to gather.
QR codes, artificial intelligence and management software improvements has made it clear that technology is not going anywhere and will continue to grow and improve the efficiency of restaurants. Be on the lookout for new ways your restaurant can use technology in the upcoming year. It will be well worth your time and your bottom line to make these types of investments.
Another trend that might not come as a surprise is the continued fad of the famous chicken sandwich. Customers love a good fried chicken sandwich as we all remember the famous Chick-Fil-A and Popeyes sandwich battle. According to the National Restaurant Association, we can expect to see more of the chicken sandwich next year with new flavors and ingredients. This is one menu item that never goes out of style!
Some other foods that will be trending next year include comfort foods like burgers and shakes, mashed potatoes and those nostalgic dishes that remind you of home. Southeast Asian flavors, flatbread sandwiches, healthier sandwich wraps and salads inspired by global ingredients like ginger, black sesame seeds and Mediterranean inspired salad dressings will also be making appearances. The National Restaurant Association has given us a peek into what we can expect, and it sounds like it is going to be a year filled with flavor!
Sustainability has been a hot topic in 2022 as well and will continue to be a point of interest in 2023. How is your restaurant anticipating the new year and the trends that are sure to come along with it?
