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10 marketing and operations restaurant trends for 202510 marketing and operations restaurant trends for 2025

Here’s how the industry can expect to evolve in the year ahead

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

December 12, 2024

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What else can restaurant operators expect from 2025? NRN’s Ron Ruggless looks deeper into the crystal ball to see which operational and marketing trends the industry might see next year.Courtesy of McDonald’s

2024 has come and mostly gone, offering another mixed bag of results for an industry still trying to find solid footing after a tumultuous few years.

While 2024 did not bear witness to any major calamity, it also didn’t boast a big recovery that industry watchers have expected now for four years. Instead, stubbornly high inflation finally became too much for many consumers, who pulled back on restaurant spending and forced chains big and small to roll out discounted products and value messaging.

So if 2024 was the year of tumbling traffic and desperate marketing, then what should restaurant operators expect from 2025? Could there be reason for optimism, or will we struggle through yet another disappointing year?   

NRN’s Ron Ruggless looks deeper into the crystal ball to see which operational and marketing trends the industry might see next year.

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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