Business Bites
Winter 2025
Welcome back to Business Bites, your quarterly roundup of industry insights! Our winter edition serves up tasty takeaways on pricing and consumer trends, as well as the recipe for a great social media strategy. Let’s dig in.
Putting value on the menu
Menu prices are on the rise across the industry, from full-service restaurants to national fast-food chains.
- 58% of full-service restaurant operators have increased menu prices in the past three months
- Average price increase across items: 9%
As prices rise, look for ways to emphasize value.
- 41% of consumers believe it’s important for a full-service restaurant to offer good value through high-quality items
- 39% hold the same view for limited-service restaurants
- National chains like McDonald’s, 7-Eleven, and Domino’s are in “value wars” to offer customers the best bang for their buck
Source: Technomic, The Price is Right Webinar 2025
Regional pricing trends
Restaurant staples vary in price across the United States. States in the Western region have the highest prices, while states in the Midwest and South have some of the lowest. Take regional prices into account when creating your menu.
- West
- Chicken sandwich: $8.78
- Cheeseburger: $6.60
- Pepperoni pizza: $16.81
- Ribeye: $33.24
- Midwest
- Chicken sandwich: $8.36
- Cheeseburger: $5.59
- Pepperoni pizza: $14.96
- Ribeye: $30.78
- Northeast
- Chicken sandwich: $8.14
- Cheeseburger: $6.02
- Pepperoni pizza: $16.59
- Ribeye: $32.33
- South
- Chicken sandwich: $7.67
- Cheeseburger: $5.50
- Pepperoni pizza: $14.92
- Ribeye: $31.25
Source: Technomic, The Price is Right Webinar 2025
Consumer cravings
Nearly half of consumers say comfort food is cravable, and their cravings can be triggered by several different factors. Look for ways to increase appetites with inviting aromas, visually appealing images, and advertisements.
Top consumer definitions for craveable foods
- Comfort food (45%)
- Fresh (42%)
- Savory (40%)
- Grilled (39%)
- Crispy (37%)
Top five craving triggers
- Thinking about an item I had previously (44%)
- The aroma of items being prepared (39%)
- Pictures of items (33%)
- Appearance of items (28%)
- Ads on radio or TV (23%)
Source: Technomic, Consumer and Operator Outlook Webinar Q3 2025
As seen on social media
Social media is playing a big role in how consumers discover and try new foods, drinks, and restaurants: 24% of consumers have tried a new restaurant, café, or menu item in the past month because it was trending or looked good on social media.
Aesthetics vs. Quality: What wins out?
Quality still trumps aesthetics.
- 80% of consumers believe high-quality foods and beverages should speak for themselves, even without fancy packaging
- 76% say they’ll keep buying a quality product no matter how it looks
That said, visual appeal is essential, especially when it comes to social media advertising — make sure to feature your tastiest food looking its best.
- 39% of consumers believe that beautiful food or drinks seen on social media indicate high quality or great taste
Source: Datassential, Quality vs. Aesthetic Report 2025
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