While usage of emerging channels is still low overall compared to traditional foodservice segments, strong appeal among younger consumers and continued nationwide expansion by these channels means increased competition for restaurants moving forward.
That’s the verdict of Technomic’s 2019 Emerging Channels Consumer
Trend Report, which explores primary and secondary emerging channels, and
covers the unique challenges and opportunities that each channel faces.
“Restaurant operators will have to pick and choose how to compete as variety
and uniqueness are currently competitive advantages for emerging channels,”
explains Bret Yonke, manager of consumer insights at Technomic.
“Moving forward, watch for restaurants to turn the tables by
utilizing certain emerging channels to expand their own brands, which some have
already done by offering meal kits and creating their own branded food trucks.”
Key takeaways from the report include:
– 78% at least somewhat agree that food halls often introduce them to dishes they’ve never tried before
– 27% of meal-kit users say they have switched companies since they first started using meal kits
– 60% say that if their favorite food truck opened a restaurant, they would be likely to visit
Dinner is the most common daypart for eatertainment concepts—65% say they typically visit for this daypart
Compiling findings from 1,500 consumer responses, as well as
trends, the comprehensive 2019 Emerging Channels Consumer Trend Report serves
as a guide for foodservice operators and suppliers to help them better
understand consumer usage, attitudes and preferences toward emerging channels
and to identify opportunity areas.
