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The findings highlight a widening gap between tightening guest budgets and rising operator technology adoption, underscoring how digital platforms have become essential infrastructure rather than optional enhancements.
View the full report here: Popmenu toolkit: 2026 Restaurant Trends to Watch
Consumer spending declines, raising stakes for digital efficiency
According to the study, 68% of U.S. consumers say they are cutting back on restaurant dining this year, prioritizing affordability and convenience. Average weekly restaurant spending fell to approximately $90 in February 2026, down $25 from June 2025 levels.
This shift is forcing operators to become more precise and efficient in how they attract, convert, and retain guests. Technology is playing a central role. Nearly every restaurant surveyed, 97%, said they are sharpening their focus on guest experience, with many implementing new digital ordering options, AI-driven tools, and automated engagement platforms.
Despite economic headwinds, restaurant operators remain cautiously optimistic. Sixty-three percent expressed optimism about their business outlook, and 28% plan to open new locations or expand existing ones. These expansion plans increasingly depend on scalable, cloud-based technology platforms that enable centralized control across multiple locations.
AI adoption accelerates across marketing, operations, and guest engagement
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a core component of restaurant technology stacks. The study found that 44% of operators are already using AI in their businesses, with another 25% planning to adopt AI tools this year.
AI applications span a wide range of use cases, including automated marketing content generation, operational optimization, and customer engagement. More than half of operators, 55%, are using AI to create marketing content, helping reduce labor demands while increasing communication frequency and personalization.
Operators are also investing in digital infrastructure to ensure visibility in emerging search channels. While 85% of consumers still rely on traditional search engines to find restaurants, 20% now use AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. In response, 78% of operators are optimizing their websites to ensure compatibility with both traditional and AI-driven discovery platforms.
This shift reflects a broader recognition that digital discoverability now directly influences revenue performance.
Personalization and automation reshape guest communication
Restaurants are increasingly using technology to deliver personalized guest experiences at scale. Eighty-seven percent of operators reported using technology to automatically tailor marketing messages based on guest preferences, order history, and behavioral data.
At the same time, operators are rapidly expanding their customer databases. On average, restaurants are adding more than 100 new guest contacts to their email lists each month, creating larger datasets that fuel automated personalization and targeted promotions.
Consumers appear receptive to these efforts. Nearly half, 48%, say they want to hear from restaurants at least once a week, and 53% regularly redeem loyalty rewards. These findings reinforce the growing importance of integrated CRM, loyalty, and marketing automation platforms in driving repeat business.
Technology is also helping restaurants deliver faster, more convenient service. Forty-one percent of consumers expect restaurants to use technology to streamline the guest experience, whether through online ordering, automated communications, or digital payment solutions.
Dynamic pricing, digital menus, and flexible pricing strategies gain momentum
Technology is also enabling more sophisticated pricing strategies. Thirty-one percent of operators are considering variable pricing models based on demand, time of day, or seasonality, up from 22% last year. These strategies depend on modern POS systems, real-time analytics, and integrated menu management platforms.
Meanwhile, operators are using digital menu platforms to introduce limited-time offers, test new items, and respond quickly to changing demand. Forty-one percent plan to introduce more limited-time menus, while others are expanding healthy options, mocktails, and comfort foods.
Digital menu platforms and centralized content management systems allow operators to deploy these changes instantly across multiple locations and ordering channels.
Technology becomes essential to long-term competitiveness
The Popmenu research makes clear that restaurants are responding to economic pressure not by retreating, but by accelerating technology adoption. Digital marketing automation, AI-powered personalization, and integrated guest engagement platforms are helping operators operate more efficiently while maintaining strong guest relationships.
As consumers become more selective about where they spend, restaurants that invest in technology-driven efficiency, personalization, and discoverability will be better positioned to compete.
Technology is no longer simply improving restaurant operations. It is becoming the foundation for revenue growth, guest retention, and long-term resilience in an increasingly challenging operating environment.
View the full report here: Popmenu toolkit: 2026 Restaurant Trends to Watch
Why Unified Customer Intelligence Will Define Restaurant Growth in the AI Era
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