Data, Data, Data. It is atop the list for restaurants looking to modernize, differentiate, and elevate experiences. So much data is generated at every point within a restaurant, whether fast casual or fine dining. And the digitization of operations over the past few years means that the industry is getting better at capturing that data.
Foot traffic or heat mapping, menu item engagement, or consumer demographics by time of day. The question now becomes – how to make sense of that data and use it to elevate the dining experience. The quicker businesses can feed that information back into operations, the better, whether for personalized dining, staffing optimization, or advertising and marketing. This is where we are heading, and I expect to hear lots of chatter about how AI, automation, and analytics partners can support restaurants on this journey to realize quicker time to value.
- AI Continues to Revolutionize Restaurant Operations and Guest Services: The restaurant sector is poised for a seismic shift as AI integration takes center stage. While over half of restaurant operators (52 percent) already say they want to embrace AI within 12 months, I predict that number will soar even higher. Restaurants are already experimenting with using AI to handle drive through orders to allow human employees to focus on customer interactions in the restaurant. We’ll see the continued shift of leveraging AI to help with other commodity tasks to free up humans to have more time to give customers higher-quality hospitality.
- Customized Catering for Flexible Occasions – The rise of personalized group dining experiences is reshaping catering trends, and L&L is already meeting the demand. Offering Bento Packs for individually portioned meals and a la carte buffet-style trays for customizable group settings, L&L’s catering options bring Hawaiian-style comfort food to events large and small throughout our locations nationwide.
- Asian-American Flavors Fueling Culinary Diversity – This trend taps into a broader consumer desire for bold flavors and multicultural dining. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue brings a distinct fusion of Asian, Pacific Islander, and American influences to consumers in the continental U.S. This culinary evolution is rooted in immigrants from Japan, China, Korea, the Philippines, and Portugal – then later America during World War II, who each made significant contributions to Hawaii’s flavor landscape. These tastes became deeply embedded in Hawaii’s culinary identity through the iconic “Plate Lunch.”
- Value-Driven Dining for the Modern Consumer – In a time when consumers seek out both quality and quantity, L&L continues to provide substantial portions at an accessible price point. With the signature Plate Lunch delivering generous combinations of proteins, rice, and macaroni salad, L&L’s offerings give patrons a cost-effective way to enjoy hearty meals that are prepared fresh with quality ingredients.
The global stored value market is experiencing remarkable growth, fueled by the increasing penetration of mobile devices and the growing acceptance of contactless payment methods. In 2025, we foresee significant developments in on and off premise restaurant payments. As of 2024, over half of U.S. consumers now use digital wallets as they seek a convenient, contactless payment experience. Restaurants that merely accept this form of payment will meet customer expectations, but restaurants that truly embrace this shift will be the real winners. In 2025, we anticipate more restaurant brands will develop their own white-labeled digital wallets in partnership with companies like Ansa to provide customers easy-to-use payments with the added benefit of personalized loyalty incentives. Not only do branded digital wallets foster convenience for guests, but they also drive sales, visit frequency and guest engagement while lowering the astronomic cost of credit card swipe fees. Additionally, we believe loyalty programs will evolve, moving away from traditional points and discounts toward more sophisticated, personalized incentives delivered through digital channels, such as digital wallets. Customer data gathered from digital interactions can offer tailored recommendations and rewards that resonate with individual guest preferences. This evolution will help operators create meaningful connections with guests, driving repeat visits and enhancing overall customer satisfaction. As technology continues to advance, restaurants that embrace these changes will be better positioned to thrive in a competitive landscape.
Markets Matter
In a world where chain stores and online retail offer uniformity, local markets stand out as vibrant hubs of diversity, reflecting the character and culture of their communities. For restaurants, sourcing from these local markets offers a way to support regional producers while differentiating their menus with unique, high-quality ingredients. Expect 2025 to see a renewed fight for the survival and growth of local markets, driven by both consumers and restaurateurs who value authenticity, sustainability, and the vital social role these markets play. The restaurant industry is becoming increasingly competitive, and I see AI as being a critical differentiator for operators. It will enable hyper-personalized experiences that transform guest interactions through advanced customer insights. I think smart, AI-enabled platforms will turn data into intelligence around visit frequency, ordering, traffic patterns and more. These insights will help anticipate individual preferences and empower restaurants to reimagine their loyalty programs and ordering systems with exceptional precision. If restaurants can leverage this across this operation, their team members will be able to optimize their efficiency, enhance productivity and address labor constraints. These innovations will allow restaurant operators to do more with less and help create smart, seamless experiences that meet rising guest expectations.
Chicken’s Timeless Comfort Food Appeal
Chicken has become America’s ultimate comfort food. It’s versatile, crave-worthy, and familiar, which keeps it in high demand, especially during uncertain economic times. In 2025, we expect to see continued growth in menu innovation with bold flavors, premium ingredients, and creative presentations, keeping loyal fans happy while drawing in adventurous foodies.
The Resilience of the Franchise Model
The franchise model remains one of the best business structures in today’s restaurant landscape. It provides a proven playbook, ongoing support, and brand recognition, reducing much of the guesswork that independent operators face. In an industry known for slim margins and rising operational costs, franchises offer built-in scalability, bulk purchasing power, and marketing resources. At Wing Snob, franchisees benefit from a trusted business framework while retaining entrepreneurial freedom, making it easier to navigate an increasingly competitive market.
Challenges for Independent Operators
The independent restaurant model is becoming riskier due to factors like fluctuating food costs, labor shortages, and the growing tech landscape. Without the safety net of a larger system, small operators face greater financial and operational pressure. Looking ahead, restaurants that adapt quickly, prioritize strong supplier partnerships, and embrace technology-driven guest engagement will have the best chance of thriving—whether part of a franchise system or operating independently.
Restaurants get quicker, more personalized with content display: Restaurants rely on signage for many critical moments in time during the dining experience, from advertising, to deal promotion, to menu boards, to order processing, and more. The digitization of signage and displays has opened new doors for restaurants to deliver engaging, personalized content for customers and a better customer experience. Looking ahead for restaurants, the challenge in meeting consumer demand becomes two-fold: how to understand the content that consumers want which drives business and how to generate and display that content in as close to real time as possible.
The answer lies in integrated digital signage solutions, in which professional displays, content management systems, data capture, and analytics capabilities come together to inform, create, and show content. This connected ecosystem not only generates business opportunities for restaurants by maximizing the chance to engage current or potential customers, but it also allows restaurants to make faster and more informed decisions backed by data. Infusing AI into the content and analytics mix has also sparked conversations with restaurant leaders on how to scale operations and determine how fast content can be produced and updated. This will be an interesting space to watch as the evolution of online and social commerce directly impacts what consumers demand from restaurant content at every touchpoint.
Innovation is woven into every part of what we do at Fogo de Chão, and for 2025, the No. 1 trend will be about creating new and unique dining experiences that surprise and delight our guests as they have come to expect from us. It’s about pushing boundaries—whether that’s through bold menu innovation inspired by our Brazilian heritage or crafting environments where people want to gather and celebrate.
For us, menu innovation is more than adding dishes—it’s about offering something guests can’t find anywhere else. Whether it’s our elevated cuts of meat, new seasonal salads, or indulgent desserts, every offering is designed to reflect our commitment to quality and authenticity.
Beyond the menu, we’re rethinking what the dining experience can be through dynamic restaurant design. We’re creating spaces that feel vibrant, welcoming, and modern while still honoring our heritage.
As we expand globally, these principles of innovation are our guide. Each new market is an opportunity to refine and elevate the Fogo experience while staying true to the essence of who we are. No matter what’s happening in the world, our focus is on leveling up and delivering excellence for every guest, every time.
Leveraging AI throughout all touchpoints and will not only be a trend but a need in 2025. We’re continuing to build our data infrastructure and are already leveraging AI for social media, content marketing, scheduling, supply chain, data mining and more all with the goal of benefitting our guest experience.
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