2025 Outlook: Experts Weigh In on Restaurant Trends and Challenges, Part One

Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked restaurant industry experts for their views on what trends and challenges owners and operators can expect to see in 2025. To read the second part, click here. For the third part, click here.  

Steady Online Ordering Brings Food Waste, Donations to the Forefront of Priorities 

Ordering food online increases restaurant sales, but it also can potentially increase wasted food if proactive measures aren’t taken - for both the business and consumers at home. When consumers order more food online, it’s clearly good for business - but it can also make it harder for businesses to manage inventory. At the same time, it can result in consumers creating more waste if they order more than they can eat. In 2025, restaurants need to have a plan in place that ensures they are effectively managing inventory and redirecting unused, still edible food to donations. Not only will this avoid wasting resources, it also will ensure they avoid a…