The year 2022 could be a year of recovery for savvy restaurateurs. After two years of social distancing, those eateries that have managed to stay in business are the ones most able to adapt. New strategies, new technologies, and upgraded commercial kitchen equipment gave boosts to the strongest restaurants, while others around them shuttered their doors forever. If you’re a business owner within the food-service industry, here’s what to expect in 2022 and what you can do to help boost your brand.
1. Alternative Dining Is Here to Stay
America used to go out to eat, and then came the pandemic. Over the last two years, alternative methods, such as curbside pickup, delivery, and drive-through dining have become the norm. With social distance came a bigger demand for low-contact and no-contact meals, and that trend is only expected to grow. Restaurant owners who aren’t set up to satisfy the changing needs of their customers will lag behind their competitors. This may give business owners the excuse to spend more money on upgrading their commercial kitchen equipment. So, if you need a new commercial griddle or countertop frying unit, 2022 may be your year to indulge.
2. Parking Lot Layouts Will Shift with the Times
With an added interest in curb-side pickup, parking lot layouts are expected to shift to meet the need. Expect to see larger lots with more designated spaces for customers who prefer to take the middle ground between take-out and delivery.
3. New and Unusual Offerings Will Trump Tradition
Social distancing has given Americans more time to monitor social media channels such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. And food videos are gaining popularity. Foodie channels such as Emmymade, One Great Vegan, and The Hunger Diaries are changing the way people think about food. Foreign foods are trending, and the stranger and more exotic, the better. Burgers and fries may have seen their heyday for now, as America’s eaters turn to more health-conscious choices. Restaurant owners who hope to follow suit need to consider adding new dishes to the menu. This, in turn, means investing in new methods of cooking. Steamers and charbroilers could become go-to options for prepping a designer dish. Make sure your restaurant equipment is up to the challenge.
4. Smaller Dine-In Areas Will Be the Norm
Bigger kitchens will trump spacious dining rooms in 2022. The shift to online ordering for take-out and delivery will require more food-prep space and fewer tables and chairs. This means your business may want to add more storage racks, work tables and food packaging equipment. The focus will be on creating spectacular dishes and packing them up to go instead of serving them in-house with flair.
5. Delivery Will Become More Autonomous
Food delivery bots are a thing right now, but they may become the standard in 2022. Restaurant owners who offer delivery and who are in urban hubs or near college campuses, may want to invest in a more automated food delivery system as part of their restaurant equipment going forward.
6. Employees Will Be King
After a year or more of chronic understaffing, working conditions are expected to improve across the board, including within the food-service industry. Food establishments may streamline hours of operation to give each worker access to a better work/life balance. This could mean restaurants will be open fewer days a week or for fewer hours per day.
7. Menus Will Streamline
Along with fewer hours of operation may come fewer menu choices. With less time to prepare, package, and deliver food, businesses may have to cut back on non-popular menu items and focus on those most requested. This could mean more wear and tear on the commercial equipment used to prepare favorite menu items. Plan for the unexpected.
8. The Costs of Eating Out Will Rise
Rising costs of inflation will up the ante across the board, and the restaurant industry is expected to suffer, too. Rising costs of shipping and glitches in the supply chain will drive up the costs of meal preparation. Ingredients may be more difficult to obtain, making them pricier. And restaurateurs will be forced to pass those costs along to their customers if they want to remain competitive.
9. Local Food Suppliers Will Benefit
One surprising perk of the nation’s supply-chain difficulties could be the rise in popularity among local growers and producers. Locally sourced meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables could spark a year of resurgence for local farmers and food suppliers. More restaurants will use local products in their menu items, as a result.
10. Comfort Foods Will Experience a Revival
It’s been a stressful two years since the emergence of the COVID-19 virus, and there’s never been more interest in comforting foods. However, expect individual chefs to put a customized spin on menu offerings such as meatloaf, pot roast, or mashed potatoes. Today’s order-out generation isn’t about to give up its comfort foods, but they do expect something entirely different from what the generations before them served up.
If you’re searching for top-quality commercial kitchen equipment at affordable prices, contact Restaurant Equipment Solutions today. RES is a top-notch supplier of restaurant equipment, restaurant furniture, and more. We go that extra mile to ensure our customers are happy, and we’ll take the time to talk with you regarding the best brands to suit your needs.
At RES, we work with a nationwide network of manufacturers that allows us to keep costs down. And we pass that savings directly on to you. Additionally, we offer an unbeatable price-match guarantee, along with same-day shipment of many items. Much of our inventory ships out free of charge, so you don’t have to worry about costly fees. Better, our product arrives on time and in new condition.
If you need help buying commercial kitchen equipment to suit your needs, call RES today. One of our friendly and knowledgeable associates is waiting to assist you.
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