Are you the head of a catering establishment and looking to satisfy your customers while attracting new visitors? What direction is the restaurant sector taking and what innovations will transform it? To shed some light on these questions, we've put together all the emerging trends of 2024 for you. From the emergence of new culinary concepts to food trends, through digitization and changes in consumer habits, discover all the restaurant trends for 2024!
The quality of the culinary offer is essential to attract customers to your restaurant. Depending on the type of your establishment, it is appreciated to offer new recipes or to present dishes in an innovative way. Keeping up with the latest culinary trends can allow you to adjust your menu accordingly.
Customers of restaurants in France place great importance on the origin of the products used on their plates. Demand for local and seasonal produce is on the rise. By prioritizing direct supplies and offering dishes adapted to seasonal products, especially fruits and vegetables, you will satisfy this trend.
In 2023, a large part of consumers are paying attention to a diet that is considered healthy and environmentally friendly. This includes vegetarian or vegan dishes, which exclude products of animal origin. Your restaurant could enrich its offer with “free” dishes (gluten free, sugar, lactose, animal proteins) or dishes based on organic products. Some ingredients are trending such as: seeds, ancient grains, legumes and forgotten vegetables. The reason for that? They offer healthier and more environmentally friendly options. As for vegan diets, vegan diets have become established well beyond a passing fad. It has even become a major movement supported by a growing number of people. Whether for ecological reasons, for health reasons, or in response to animal cruelty, more and more French people are expressing the desire to increase their consumption of vegan products. In 2024, we therefore expect the vegan universe to be more lively and inventive than ever. In particular, we expect an expansion of vegan fast foods, a catering formula that is very successful. Vegan pastries, which easily rival traditional options, are following the same growth.
Indeed, fermented foods should emerge as a major food trend in 2024. These are not French classics such as bread, sauerkraut, beer or cheese. These foods are already well integrated into our gastronomy. In this case, the focus is instead on more modern and digestible options such as miso, kefir, kombucha, tempeh, kimchi and tofu. Thanks to their richness in probiotics, these foods are fully in line with the trend towards healthy eating, highlighting the benefits of “good bacteria”.
The year 2023 saw the emergence of the concept of single-product restaurants in several cities in France. And this gastronomic trend persists in 2024. A single-product restaurant is dedicated to the enhancement of a single ingredient, dish or culinary technique. Whether it's for beef tartare, rice, egg, avocado, avocado, barbecue, barbecue, barbecue, toasted sandwich, tiramisu, eclair, gyozas, corn or ceviche, each food has its own specialized establishment. Moreover, this trend can be integrated into a traditional restaurant. How? By highlighting a specific product in a menu section for example. Indeed, positioning yourself as an expert in a specific product attracts devoted enthusiasts. With many segments still unexplored, this trend is expected to continue to develop in 2024.
With the adoption of the new law, which will be implemented by 2025, the “Fait Maison” label is about to become a must for the year 2024. Indeed, restaurants will have to strive to comply with its requirements. The precise details of its implementation remain to be defined, but one thing is certain: homemade preparation will benefit from stricter regulations, better visibility and increased value.The presentation of the label has not yet been revealed, whether it is a logo, an asterisk or a seal. However, as of 2024, a growing number of establishments should align themselves with “Home Made” standards in order to be able to proudly display this label in 2025.
In the same vein as “homemade”, “just like at home” appeals to consumers just as much. The revival of classic restaurants will mark a major restaurant trend for 2024. In a surge of modern nostalgia, breweries are becoming essential places. Restaurant owners seduce with recipes from grandmothers, promoting authentic cuisine, vintage decor and a warm atmosphere. This movement celebrates French know-how while refreshing the concept. The movement was initiated in 2019 by the Nouvelle Vague group, with the opening of the Dubillot brewery, then the Bellanger brewery. The trend has now confirmed itself, promising a great future for many restaurants.
In 2024, there is a proliferation of establishments offering exclusively halal options. A growing number of restaurant chains, such as Quick and O'Tacos, are moving in this direction. On the Uber Eats platform, the number of restaurants offering halal food increased significantly by +27% between 2022 and 2023. Even more remarkable, the variety of the halal offer is being enriched, extending to various culinary traditions, including in the field of street food.
In addition to the culinary offer, an effective marketing strategy is essential to attract and retain customers. This strategy must evolve with the market and incorporate new promotional techniques.
Social media, especially Instagram, is essential for promoting your restaurant, especially to a young audience. Instagram is positioned as the go-to platform for culinary establishments, however, other networks like TikTok and Facebook also offer the chance to reach a large audience, engage and retain your customers, present promotions, and stand out from competitors. Partnerships with influencers can also contribute to this promotion, as can creating engaging content and building an engaged community around your offering. Regardless of the technique or the network, establishing a strong presence on social media platforms represents a valuable opportunity for modern restaurant owners.
Gone are the old dining rooms, austere and devoid of character. Now, they are giving way to new collective catering spaces, which emphasize warmth, openness and conviviality. These places are transformed into real spaces for socialization and relaxation, open throughout the day. With attractive decor, modern furniture and the presence of plants, everything is designed to promote social ties and improve the well-being of employees. Gradually, digital solutions are also making their way into catering. QR Code menus, automatic order terminals and digital checkout systems simplify the customer experience. Just as we are seeing the emergence of technologies such as connected refrigerators or tray scanning systems based on artificial intelligence.For employees, various digital tools can optimize work organization. In addition, restaurant management software facilitates the automation of administrative and HR tasks, and is increasingly popular with professionals in the sector.
With the democratization of digitalization, independent restaurant owners realize that they hold a treasure: customer data. This valuable information provides the opportunity to create tailored loyalty programs and customer experiences. Thus, they represent a crucial strategic advantage to compete with large chains and delivery services. In the past, independent restaurants had difficulty collecting and exploiting this data due to lack of resources. Today, the situation has changed thanks to simple and affordable digital tools such as tablets and interactive terminals. These technologies encourage customers to sign up for the restaurant's database in exchange for attractive rewards. They thus allow owners to implement personalized marketing strategies without investing excessive time.
In 2023, innovation and the personalization of services were already in the spotlight. In order to stand out and stimulate word-of-mouth, restaurant owners are now opting for unique dining experiences that go beyond simply offering dishes. This includes:
However, it is still entirely possible to organize more traditional events. Whether they are tasting workshops or cooking classes, they continue to appeal to a large clientele.
In the world of catering, beyond cooking and marketing, it is essential to remember that a restaurant is first and foremost a commercial enterprise. To boost your establishment's sales and increase its reputation, the adoption of sales strategies adapted to the expectations of current consumers is crucial.
While technology is making its way into restaurants, it makes it possible to do a lot of things on the sales side as well. Now you can use AI to:
Artificial intelligence supports you in your decisions to ensure that they are accurate. This technological advance boosts operational efficiency and significantly improves the user experience. Automated order kiosks, QR Codes to kitchen management screens (KDS - Kitchen Display System), automation and technological innovations are transforming restaurant practices and continue to offer amazing perspectives.
Reaching customers, whether at home or in your establishment, illustrates the essence of omnichannel. And this approach is gaining in popularity. According to Access Panel, 52% of French people alternate between on-site and online orders. Home meal delivery experienced a real boom worldwide during the Covid-19 health crisis. This trend persists and is diversifying with the emergence of new delivery services. Ignoring it could therefore mean the loss of significant revenue. In addition, digital technology offers exceptional opportunities to attract a wide range of customers.
In a context where the restaurant sector is experiencing increasing difficulties, the notable performances of franchises stand out. In uncertain times, the attraction to replicate a successful restaurant model, offering a predefined profitability plan and economies of scale on tools, marketing, etc., is stronger than ever. The number of restaurant franchise networks, which was 314 in 2022, is expected to increase further in 2023 and 2024. This growth, which is increasingly varied, encourages innovation. This is particularly true with the emergence of micro-franchising, offering simplified and accessible contracts.
Do you need to transport goods and food products between your franchises or from your kitchens and laboratories? Shippr offers custom delivery options. Our services cover dry, ambient and refrigerated transport, thus adapting perfectly to your requirements. Ask for a quote and one of our business experts will contact you to explore the options that best fit your needs.
Are you familiar with the concept of flexible pricing, also known as Yield Management? Although this method is not yet widely used in the restaurant business, some professionals are already using it. This approach involves adjusting prices according to the time of day, with:
This technique can attract new customers, but also contribute to better inventory management and the reduction of food waste.
