There is so much we don’t know right now — about the coronavirus, about how to re-imagine restaurants to meet evolving government restrictions, safety and social distancing. Even though restaurants have reopened in all 50 states with varying degrees of restrictions, people aren’t necessarily rushing back to them just yet. We do not yet know what will make them feel comfortable enough to return to on-premise dining, or, once there, meet their new expectations.
The latest data from market research firm The NPD Group offers insight into consumers’ current sentiment and behavior shifts during the coronavirus crisis that provide clues into how they might act going forward, as restrictions continue to ease amid the pandemic.
In this gallery, find out why convenience still matters to consumers, how different regions across the country are being impacted in different ways, and what could cause the current positive restaurant forecast to reverse in the weeks to come.
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