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2020 Restaurant Trend Report

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2020

Restaurant
Trend Report

It's been an unprecedented year for restaurants.

Even through profound uncertainty, the restaurant community has unified and persevered. BentoBox has seen, first hand, new trends emerge. Through the lens of our 6,000+ restaurant partners, here is how the industry has evolved in this unparalleled year.

Trend
#1

Digital Transformation of Restaurants

To adapt to COVID-19, restaurants adopted new and existing technology like direct online ordering and QR codes, that powered their businesses online.

250x

Average monthly online order volume pre vs. post-COVID-19

3.67

Average number of items in an order

$59.18

Average $ amount per online order

$95.02

Average $ amount per online catering order

Friday

Most popular day to order online

Mother's Day

Most popular holiday for online catering orders

Trend
#2

Diner Support for the Restaurant Industry

Diners rallied behind restaurants and their staff and supported them with donations, gift cards, tickets towards online classes and merch purchases.

$363,180.97

COVID-19 direct donations from diners [on BentoBox websites]

Top 5 items sold that show restaurant support

This Bud's from #11 T-shirt 

The Salt Line

2020 T-Shirt Pre-Order

Java Moe's

Pay it Forward

Georgia Boys BBQ

Staff GoFundMe Donation

Hart's

Doodle Mug

Bubby's

91,271

Total of gift cards sold

$10,000

Highest gift card amount

Trend
#3

Rise of Ghost Kitchens

COVID-19 expedited the rise of ghost kitchens, virtual restaurants and pop-ups as a low-risk way to test new concepts and locations.

60x

YoY increase in ghost kitchens

California

State with the most ghost kitchens

Top 3 ghost kitchen cuisines

1. Chicken

2. Barbecue

3. Mexican

Trend
#4

Birth of the At-Home Meal Kit

Restaurants got creative and found ways to deliver the on-premise dining experience into the homes of their guests.

13x

YoY Increase in meal kits sold

Oxalis Pantry:

Date Night Kit

Restaurant that sold the most meal kits

825

Number of meal kits offered

Top 5 meal kits

ICHIRAN Ramen Kit

ICHIRAN

Lobster Roll Kit

New England Lobster

Bagel Kits

O Bagel

Tuna Tartare Kit

Chilmark Tavern

STAY@HOME Cupcake Kit

James & the Giant Cupcake

Top 5 meal kit types

Tacos

Pasta

Margarita

Pizza

Cookies

Trend
#5

Restaurants Standing Up for Cultural and Social Change

Restaurants fed frontline workers and took action in their communities for a better tomorrow through social justice, economic and political activism.

10,985

Number of meals donated to frontline workers

$193,429

Total $ supporting frontline workers

This year, the restaurant community exemplified grit and perseverance.

Together, hospitality industry leaders and diners rallied to adapt, pivot and rebuild, setting the stage for a more sustainable, prosperous future for the industry we love.

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