Three Takeout Trends That Are Taking Off

As enjoyable as a sit-down dinner can be, more and more diners are opting to eat their favorite meals at home. Off-premise orders (including takeout, drive-thru and catering) now make up 38% of restaurant sales.

And it makes sense. Ordering to-go food means not having to schedule a babysitter or pay for parking—and sometimes not even having to leave the couch. How can your restaurant keep up with growing takeout demand? Here are three trends that can get you up to speed.

Take it to the streets

Not long ago, sampling foreign flavors required a plane ride. Today, many of those meals are right outside our front doors—and foodies in this country are more eager than ever to try them. According to Technomic’s U.S. Ethnic Food and Beverage Consumer Trend Report, 36% of consumers order ethnic foods at least weekly. Portability is also in high demand: 29% of consumers (40% in the 18-34 age group) are looking for global, grab-n-go “street foods” that travel well and are easy to eat. Speaking of portable...

Knock-knock

Many eaters are content to pick up their takeout order at the restaurant, but a growing number want the ultra-convenience of app-based delivery. Food delivery apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash and Postmates generated up to $5 billion in sales in Q2 2019.

That’s a lot of to-go boxes! Many of these customers are likely trying your food
for the first time, so remember to make that first delivery count. Branding your containers will help you make a lasting impression. On top of that, your packaging choice plays a huge role in the experience.

Care packaging

With the current backlash on single-use plastics and foam containers, choosing more eco-friendly options can appeal to eaters. This type of packaging can cost more, but Technomic’s Takeout & Off-Premise Consumer Trend Report notes that 36% of diners are willing to pay extra for it. There are plenty of compostable, biodegradable and recyclable alternatives to the classic plastic clamshell—you can find them on sites like Greenstaurant and Good Start Packaging.

Try out a few of our favorite recipes. Our Vietnamese Meat Pies are savory, handheld and start with Pillsbury’s Best™ Puff Pastry Sheets. For a brunch-time flavor mashup, try our Portable Grilled Chicken Caesar Waffles made with Gold Medal™ Complete Buttermilk Pancake Mix. And for a bite-sized to-go breakfast snack or mid-day dessert, it doesn’t get much easier than two-ingredient Scone Bites: just add granulated sugar to Pillsbury™ Place & Bake™ Frozen Scone Dough in Apple Cinnamon.

Ready to take on these takeout trends at your restaurant? General Mills makes it easy to create all kinds of portable meals and snacks.