We often speak about trends among the Millennials. It’s hard to ignore this segment—after all, this is a generation that is 75 million strong in America. By 2019, Millennials are expected to outnumber Baby Boomers. Restaurant operators need to take particular care to attract and sustain this important cohort. Millennials are driving dining trends including the growing off-premise segment.

According to ROTH Capital Partners’ 2018-2019 Millennial Survey, they found that:

• Millennials believe the economy will be the same or better next year
• More than half have decreased their social media usage over the last year
• Only 26% of Millennials would prefer not to share personal information for a more tailored experience
• Two-thirds of Millennials prefer to research significant purchases online, but 57% still prefer in-store transactions
• 27% of Millennials are comfortable purchasing groceries online
• 62% of Millennials are Amazon Prime members
• More than one-third of Millennials have an Amazon Echo, Google Home, or similar product and 24% of those use them to regularly make purchases
• 15% Millennials have used virtual reality (“VR”) to evaluate furniture purchases, while 16% have used “virtual mirrors” to try on makeup or clothing
• More than half of Millennials belong to traditional fitness clubs while 28% attend classes at boutiques
• Climbing, hiking, yoga, and cycling are among the most popular fitness activities for Millennials

You can read the full report by requesting the survey here.

These key findings tell us several things: Millennials are optimistic regarding the economy; they like and are open to technology when it comes to making purchases and decisions; they are health-conscious, and they enjoy convenience. What, as restaurant owners and operators, can we learn from this? For one, is your menu reflective of the Millennial values? Are you offering healthy dishes? Are your marketing strategies using technology to help attract this segment? How is your brand resonating with this crowd?

There are many actions you can employ to ensure you’re catering to Millennials. For more information or help on your restaurant strategy, please contact Synergy.

These days, all eyes are on Millennials. Why is this? For starters, the Millennial generation population is anticipated to surpass Baby Boomers in 2015 thus becoming the biggest group in the United States. In fact, they are now the largest generation in the U.S. workforce. As restaurant operators, why should we care? Their spending power is $200 billion.

Here are some important values of Millennials that encourage their dining habits:

–          They dine out more frequently at fast-casual restaurants.

–          They are adventurous and like trying new kinds of foods.

–          Quality of ingredients matters: They’re likely to support restaurants that seem more health-conscious.

–          They value customizing their foods.

–          They are concerned with social consciousness and how the food they eat was raised or processed.

It is of utmost importance that your foodservice operation understands the needs and wants of this significant generation. Explore our other blog posts to learn more about Millenials’ dining habits.

Chipotle Mexican Grill photo credit: inazakira CC by-SA 2.0

Millennials, those aged at approximately 18-34 years old, are the largest generation in American history. They’re confident, tech-savvy, connected, choosy, adventurous and their impact on the economy is of utmost significance. By 2017, this age group is predicted to spend $200 billion annuallyaccording to Advertising Age!

Consumer market research group, NPD Group, reports that Millennials continue to be “heavy users of restaurants.” NPD further notes that Millennials made over 14 billion visits to restaurants in the year ending June 2014.  It’s no surprise that this segment is highly influential. If you’re a restaurant operator, it’s time to start paying attention to this all-important crowd.  But you can’t expect to grab this group’s attention by merely tapping into social media, as QSR Magazine notes in this article.

Also known as “Generation Now,” “Generation Y” and “Generation We,” this diverse consumer base takes into account many factors when making a purchasing decision, from trusting recommendations from friends, to seeking unique dining experiences. So as a restaurant, what can you do to draw them in? The National Restaurant Association explores some ways to connect to this group in order to help restaurants expand their Millennial customer base in this informative piece, “Generation Now: Marketing to your Millennial audience.” Also be sure to read FSR Magazine’s, “What Millennials Want,” for more great tips.