Restaurants are walking a tightrope at the moment. On one side, rising food and labour costs. On the other, consumers who are tired of price hikes. Balance is hard to find. Demand remains high, but consumers are seeking value more than ever, with their own pockets being pinched by the higher cost of living.

Also, where are all the restaurant workers? The labour shortage still continues to plague restaurant businesses across the world.

In this landscape, what does the year ahead look like?

1. Hello Auto

Automation in restaurants will continue to grow, and probably accelerate, in every area of the business – from robotics in the kitchen to automated payment and order technology. Even back-office, managerial tasks are inevitably becoming more automated as AI is integrated into all of our systems. 

While the initial investment in these solutions has often put owners off in the past, we will see more and more restaurant businesses looking at the long game and how they can save costs and run more efficiently over the coming years. 

Automation is also a two-bird, one-stone killer. Because, while automation has a bad rep for taking human jobs, for restaurants, it seems that not enough humans want those jobs.  

“Rising labour costs and frequent worker shortages—coupled with rapid advancements in technology—are making automation one potential route to operational efficiency, allowing employees to be redeployed to higher-value activities.”

McKinsey

The ability to get the most value out of your existing staff and to run restaurants effectively with a smaller team are both foundational for restaurants in the year ahead. 
Automation across the business is the most obvious way to achieve this.

2. Omnichannel (finally?)

Omnichannel (and now Unified Commerce) has been on the industry’s lips for many years. And for good reason – it’s what customers expect. As everyone’s digital and physical lives become more and more blended, we expect a seamless transition between the two.

Many steps in this direction up to today have been shaky, disjointed attempts that can end up frustrating customers more than satisfying them. But technology is catching up with demand. 

“Omnichannel strategies drive an 80% higher rate of incremental store visits.”

Think with Google

The ability to seamlessly connect physical and digital channels, allowing consumers to drift between them in the way that suits them, is finally becoming possible. And 2025 may just be the year omnichannel becomes a widespread reality.

3. Super Duper Hyperpersonalisation 

What exactly are we getting for all the data we hand over to businesses?
This is what today’s consumers are thinking. And the answer should be better service, more accurate personalisation, and loyalty rewards that actually matter to them.

“71% of consumers expect personalised interactions and 76% report frustration when this is absent.”

McKinsey

Ultimately, we need to remember this simple principle: one size fits one.

With the power of AI turned on to the mountains of consumer data, we can finally start to do what we could never accomplish with manpower alone – understand what each individual consumer is looking for. 

With hyperpersonalisation we can start to see product suggestions, discounts and upgrades that feel less like a mass-produced marketing campaign, and more like a recommendation from an old friend. We can see bespoke menu arrangements based on a customer’s order history and profile that intelligently promote the most appealing items during every interaction. Or if a customer that usually visits once a week goes three weeks without a visit, AI can deliver an incentive customised specifically for their buying preferences.

AI-powered, data-driven, hyperpersonalisation may be a mouthful, but it is key to growing profits in 2025.

4. Get well, or die trying

The health and wellness revolution is only gathering pace, and more and more people want to know what the hell is going into their food (trust me, my own kids already know more about artificial sweeteners and the gut microbiome than the average nutritionist of a decade ago). 

As the years progress, restaurants that don’t get on board with this movement will inevitably see a declining market share. Especially as new generations of children who are more nutritionally educated come of age.

Restaurant365, in a survey of over 6000 restaurants and cafes for their 2025 State of the Restaurant Industry Report, found that almost 30% expect higher demand for healthier/special menu items. 
 

“Today’s diners are more aware than ever of what goes into their meals—prompting restaurants to reassess the ingredients they use, from seed oils to refined sugars, and opt for fresher, more nutritious choices.”

Restaurant365

People will always want to splurge on treats, of course. But restaurants that can demonstrate their menu is more natural, healthy and sustainably sourced than the competition are more likely to win the loyalty of both current and upcoming generations. 

Everything is evolving so quickly today – from the economy to the industry tech to consumer behaviour – and there’s so much more we could talk about. But these are a few of the most important trends we think will shape the restaurant industry in 2025. 

Did you know that Glory, along with our subsidiary company Acrelec, provide a full spectrum of restaurant solutions that stretch from the front counter to the kitchen to the back office? Discover more about our smart automation solutions here.