The pandemic dramatically altered the landscape of the restaurant industry, as stay-home orders pushed consumers to stay inside, order delivery, and prepare their own food. Existing brand relationships were disrupted, as consumers no longer picked up food from establishments near their offices or dined out with friends and family. In fact, in 2020, 79M consumers ordered from restaurants directly while 59M ordered from 3rd Party Delivery Platforms.

Restaurants brands had to rapidly pivot to digital ordering, app engagement, and loyalty programs to reach new and existing customers. Although consumers are excited to dine out again (restaurant sales are expected to grow 11% in 2021), restaurants will continue to invest in digitization as well as facilitate higher volumes of pick-up at stores or drive-thrus to accommodate the wide range of consumer preferences.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Adam Daniele, VP, Client Strategy.