Technology, Lifestyle Food Choices Evolving Trends for Restaurant Industry in 2015

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Feb 05, 2015, 04:53 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the National Restaurant Association's 2015 Restaurant Industry Forecast, roughly one-quarter of consumers say technology options are important features that factor into their decision to choose a restaurant. This is up from the nearly one-fifth the prior year that said the same, underscoring that technology quickly is becoming an expectation rather than a novelty when dining out.

The National Restaurant Association's 2015 Restaurant Industry Forecast explores how consumers choose where to dine and other consumer trends. More information at http://www.restaurant.org/forecast.

In addition, consumers are showing increasing interest in local sourcing, with eight in 10 tableservice operators saying their guests are more interested in locally sourced items this year, compared with seven in 10 who said the same a year earlier. And, 69 percent of consumers say they are more likely to visit a restaurant that offers locally produced food items, up 5 percentage points from what consumers said a year earlier.

Eight in 10 of consumers say restaurants offer a wider variety of healthy menu options now compared to two years ago, and three-quarters say they are more likely to visit a restaurant that offers healthy options; seven in 10 say they also order more healthful options in restaurants than they did two years ago.

For additional information and to buy the 2015 Restaurant Industry Forecast, visit Restaurant.org/Forecast.

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 14 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We operate the industry's largest trade show (NRA Show in Chicago); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart); as well as the Kids LiveWell program promoting healthful kids' menu options. For more information, visit Restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube.

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SOURCE National Restaurant Association