12 must-know restaurant trends for 2024

From connected street food to the latest eco-responsible trends and digitalization, discover the innovations that are shaking up the bold, dynamic world of contemporary cuisine! Here are the 12 must-know restaurant trends of 2024.

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Trend n°1: Take advantage of artificial intelligence and task automation

Accurately forecast your sales, anticipate your production, order at the right time, have the right stock quantities... Thanks to AI, you're assisted to make sure you make the right decisions! Technology enables you toimprove operational efficiency and offer a better user experience. Order kiosks in the dining room, QR codes, production screens in the kitchen (also known as KDS, Kitchen Display System)... Task automation and technological innovations in fast food are revolutionizing processes and will continue to surprise you!

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Trend No. 2: Make the most of your business by attracting customers wherever they are

Being able to reach all customers, whether they're at home or in your restaurant, is the principle of omnichannelity. These are increasingly popular channels, as 52% of French people have mixed orders between in-store and online.

So if you don't take advantage of this trend, you could potentially be depriving yourself of significant revenues. And digital offers unique opportunities to capture the maximum number of customers.

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Trend No. 3: Seduce with green food 

Eat well, eat better, eat healthily and eat locally... Green food, or healthy food, is becoming increasingly popular. More and more restaurants, food trucks and fast food outlets are catching on, offering healthy menus, vegetarian options and healthy veggie recipes based on vegetables, tofu, legumes... Diets that limit meat consumption are on the rise: more and more French people want to reduce their meat consumption and adopt a vegetarian or even vegan diet.

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Trend No. 4: Reduce your waste with anti-gaspi baskets

According to the latest Too Good To Go and Yougov study, more than 8 out of 10 French people are in favor of anti-waste products. What's more, according to the same study, more than 3 out of 4 French people would like to see more low-cost, anti-waste products in retail outlets.

This trend seems to be more than just a fad, it's a sustainable change in behavior. By setting up anti-waste baskets via Too Good To Go or Phenix, you also attract new customers while complying with the anti-waste law.

Trend no. 5: Take advantage of new food concepts

Trends are emerging, blending ethnic cuisines with vegetarian/vegan dishes, local and sustainable foods and unique gastronomic experiences. Food trucks, fast food and concept food have become the new testing grounds for new tastes and culinary experiences, offering consumers stimulating and creative culinary fusion and exotic flavors. Fusion cuisine, themed restaurants, bicycle canteens, cereal bars... Concept food illustrates consumers' desire for diversity and innovation, offering unique culinary experiences!

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Trend no. 6: Offer a subscription

Originating in the United States, this trend enables you to diversify your income and secure sales while building customer loyalty. Several chains have already opted for this new proposal, including Del Arte, UNI and Pret A Manger.

👉 To find out more: Restaurant subscriptions: the future of catering?

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Trend no. 7: Develop a sustainable kitchen

Eating well while respecting the planet is a trend that has been taking shape over the last few years. Restaurateurs are seizing on this issue to develop sustainable, environmentally-friendly cuisine : using organic, local and seasonal produce, combating food waste, eliminating single-use plastic, setting up sorting systems, and so on. Just like consumers, more and more restaurateurs are concerned about and respectful of the environment... and so much the better! 

👉 Going further: 8 tips to avoid food waste in restaurants

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Trend no. 8: Opt for local and ethical sourcing 

In the same spirit, one of the trends in 2024 catering is eco-responsible cuisine that favors short circuits with local producers. Some restaurateurs are choosing to work with local producers to manage just-in-time stocks and reduce long-distance transport. Ethical, responsible, seasonal cuisine based on fresh, local produce is undoubtedly one of the 2024 food trends to remember! 

Trend No. 9: Increase your presence on social networks

Developing your presence on social networks is a godsend for tomorrow's restaurateurs. Instagram is THE social network for restaurateurs, but there's also Tik Tok, Facebook, etc., which will enable you to reach a large audience, build customer loyalty, offer deals and stand out from the competition. 

👉 Going further: 8 tips for developing your restaurant on social networks

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Trend no. 10: Make your catering areas user-friendly

Gone are the drab, soulless dining rooms. Today's new catering spaces are designed to be warm, open and friendly. They become living and relaxing spaces, accessible all day long. Attractive decor, modern furnishings, plants - everything is designed to promote social interaction and employee well-being. Little by little, the classic canteen is disappearing from the landscape to make way for modern canteens with connected fridges, order terminals, tray scanning with AI... 

👉 To find out more: The 2.0 digital canteen for your lunch break

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Trend no. 11: Connected street food

Very popular, street food offers freshly prepared dishes to eat on the go or to take away, at very affordable prices. In this effervescent world, street food must constantly reinvent itself in an ultra-competitive market, and some street food players are banking on the fusion of authentic flavors and technological innovation. Today's food trucks and street food stands no longer simply serve delicious food, they are transforming themselves into veritable digital hubs with a digitized customer journey, offering aficionados a new taste experience just a click away and served in a matter of minutes. 

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Trend No. 12: Build customer loyalty 

" 27% of French people are waiting for a digital loyalty program to be implemented in the foodservice sector " (source: Snacking). Although loyalty programs have been around for some time in food culture, adapting them to current trends - particularly in terms ofdigital accessibility and personalized offers- keeps them resolutely fashionable and relevant for building customer loyalty, creating more engaging experiences and optimizing your marketing strategy for continued sales growth!

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Innovorder is the leader in digital solutions for commercial and institutional foodservice. Our team supports restaurateurs in their digital transformation with an all-in-one solution (cash register, kiosk, online ordering, KDS).