Plan now for an excellent customer experience in 2025. Use these customer-focused stats to adapt your restaurant, by applying past years’ learnings for the year ahead.

Focus on off-premise dining, online orders, reviews, and social media. These stats also show how to improve food delivery and loyalty plans. Whether your guests are Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, or Boomers, here’s how to gear up your restaurant marketing for 2025.

1. Consumers are eager to indulge again

In a May 2024 McKinsey survey, 50% of U.S. consumers wanted to treat themselves. 82% of high-earning Millennials are ready to spend more. Diners have resumed to regular dining. Great news for restaurateurs all around!

2. Restaurant sales are rebounding

As of October 2024, Statista reports that food service sales in Malaysia climbed to a staggering $5.1 billion USD. By 2027, this type of foodservice establishment is forecast to reach a sales value of nearly $7.5 billion USD.

3. Online reviews remain highly influential

65% of customers are influenced by online reviews when choosing a restaurant.

4. Customers prefer restaurants’ own ordering apps

With Statista expecting smartphone food delivery app users to reach 53.9 million by end of 2024, 67% of consumers say they’d prefer to use a restaurant’s own app or website for food delivery over third-party platforms.

5. Delivery demand continues to grow

68% of Deloitte report respondents order takeaway more than once a month, and 52% order delivery more than once a month. 71% of them still request contactless delivery for safety.

6. Digital ordering increases order size

Restaurants that allow customers to pay using their preferred digital ordering method (apps, kiosks, etc.) see 14% higher ticket sizes, and a 30% increase in tips.

7. Digital platforms dominate customer engagement

75% of diners appreciate digital menus or QR code menus. 70% of U.S. consumers prefer digital online ordering for off-premise dining, 79% have a restaurant app, and 48% follow a restaurant or food brand on social media.

8. Emotional connections drive customer value

When an emotional bond forms between a restaurant and its customers, those customers become 27% more valuable, per a Harvard Business School study.

9. Negative experiences spread rapidly

While 60% of guests with a positive experience dine at the restaurant more often, 73% who had an unresolved poor experience told friends and family about it.

In short, a happy customer might tell only one other person about you.
An unhappy customer will tell everyone about you.

10. Resolving issues retains customers

When guests’ service problems were resolved to their satisfaction, 79% said they planned to return to the restaurant.

11. Millennials influence dining trends

Half of Millennials turn to restaurants’ social media for discovery, and 28% are willing to pay more if it means higher employee wages.

12. Loyalty programmes boost visit frequency

Diners who order online visit restaurant more often. And 80% of millennials are more likely to try a new restaurant if it offers a loyalty programme.

13. Cooking classes appeal to consumers

62% of consumers are interested in restaurants that offer cooking classes or experiences.

14. Sustainability and eco-friendliness matter

60% of consumers are willing to  pay more for locally sourced ingredients. And 55% of diners are interested in plant-based menu options.

15. Ratings of 4 stars or higher are essential

65% of customers are influenced by online reviews when choosing a restaurant.

33% of diners won’t eat at restaurants below a 4-star rating, and each added Google rating star boosts revenue 5-9%.

16. Locally-sourced and healthy options attract customers

40% say locally-sourced food would make them choose one restaurant over another, and 61% order more healthful options.

17. Positive social media engagement drives visits

74% of customers who actively follow and engage with restaurants on social media are more likely to visit and order.

18. Swift responses to negative reviews responses are crucial

53% of customers expect a response to a negative review within a week, and 94% say a bad review has deterred them.

19. Enticing food photography is a must

66% of consumers say that food presentation on social media influences their dining choices.

45% of restaurant-goers look for food photos on websites, and 36% say poor photos discourage them from visiting.

Read our guide to Instagram marketing for small restaurants on how to ramp up your social media game.

20. Personalised service strengthens customer loyalty

72% of customers say that a personalised dining experience would increase their likelihood of returning.

65% of diners want staff to know their names, and 95% would be more likely to return if staff catered to their preferences.

21. Embracing hospitality technology enhances the guest experience

50% of restaurant-goers expect contactless payment options.

75% of diners agree that restaurant tech (like QR code ordering) improves their experience, and contactless payment will grow 240% by 2025.

85% of diners expect free Wi-Fi as a standard offering.

22. Alcohol sales provide a boost

53% of Millennials and 35% of off-premise customers are more likely to choose a restaurant that offers alcoholic beverages to-go.

23. Accommodating dietary needs and preferences is key

61% of consumers order more healthful options at restaurants than they did two years ago. 43% of diners say they are more likely to choose a restaurant with sustainable practices.

24. Investing in packaging and sustainability earns customer loyalty

40% of consumers want restaurants to focus on reducing packaging waste. 60% are willing to pay more for locally-sourced ingredients, as such food supports their community.

We share some tips on branding, packaging, and sustainability in this article.

25. Leveraging social media engagement and responsiveness drives traffic

71% of customers are more likely to recommend a restaurant that responds quickly on social media, and 74% who follow and engage with restaurants online are more likely to visit and order.

 

Conclusion

Use these statistics to plan your restaurant’s 2025 marketing strategy

That’s a lot of information to ingest here today, so take your time. Focus on the data that suits your 2025 marketing strategy best. Pick the ones that can move the needle the most for your business. 

Whether it’s social media, reviews, technology, or sustainability. These studies can guide you on where to focus. And hopefully they’ll make a big difference for next year’s profits. Good luck!

 

Get closer than ever to your customers. So close that you tell them what they need well before they realise it themselves.
- Steve Jobs

 

 

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We use the term 'restaurant' throughout the article for consistency. However this guide can be generally applied to any type of food shop, including but not limited to: bakeries, bars, bistrots, boulangeries, butcheries, cafés, cantinas, caterers, coffeeshops, delis, diners, eateries, food trucks, grocers, patisseries, pubs, and more.

 

Maynuu


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