Top Restaurant Trends 2022: What to Expect From the Coming Year

2021 is flying on by and it finally feels like hospitality is bouncing back. We’ve learned a lot from the past year and it’s inspiring to see so many restaurants evolving and thriving.

But now things seem to be getting back on track, what can we expect to see from 2022? In this post, we explore the top restaurant trends that could define the coming year.

Let’s dive in!

The rise of restaurant merch

If there’s one thing the past 18 months have taught us, it’s that restaurants can no longer rely on a single revenue stream.

As more and more restaurants realise this, the trend of restaurant merch has emerged. More and more restaurants are looking to sell products and merchandise as an alternative revenue stream

Selling your own merch is also a great way to grow brand awareness.

T-Shirts

During the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, many restaurants used t-shirt sales to pay rent, utilities and suppliers while their normal operations had temporarily ceased.

Whereas people used to buy t-shirts of the bands they liked, it’s become more of a trend in recent years to sport the logo of your favourite restaurant, cafe or pub.

For example, London’s Crosstown Doughnuts sell merch so loyal customers can showcase their name across the UK.

 

Tote Bags

Tote bags are another popular go-to for restaurant’s looking to expand their revenue streams.

Much like t-shirts, they allow restaurants to spread brand awareness by encouraging fans to wear their logo loud and clear, hanging from their shoulders.

Reusable mugs

Reusable mugs allow cafes to encourage repeat business as well as have their logos seen wherever their customer goes with it.

It’s also a great way to promote sustainability and cut down the use of single-use coffee cups among customers

Here’s an example from coffee roaster and Lightspeed customer Campbell and Syme.

Drone delivery lifting off

Delivery has grown exponentially since 2020, with an unprecedented increase in demand spurred by the pandemic.

The number of people in Europe using food delivery apps is set to grow to 96.9 million by 2024

In 2021, dark kitchens took centre stage. Their low overhead costs made for fierce competition with established restaurants on major food delivery apps.

They’ve predicted to take up 50% of the market share of both drive-thru and takeaway food services by 2030.

But as the year reaches its final months, a new dining option is on the horizon—drone delivery.

It’s exactly what it sounds like: meals delivered by drone. While not a totally new idea, the concept has taken some time to take flight.

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