MRM Research Roundup: Holiday Spending, Franchise Optimism, and Pickle Energy

This final edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Research Roundup for 2024 features news of operator challenges and priorities, delivery trends, wages and hourly worker considerations. 2024 By the Numbers and Looking to 2025  Restaurant leaders representing more than 6,200 locations shared 2024’s top challenges and opportunities and their 2025 priorities in Restaurant365's annual industry survey.  Those priorities include increased marketing and sales efforts alongside new benefits and programs to attract and retain staff.  

Participants reported continued food and labor cost increases, with 88 percent experiencing rising staff expenses, compared to 89 percent in last year’s annual survey, and 86 percent reporting an increase in food costs. For those with rising labor, 51 percent reported a 1 percent to 5 percent increase, 41 percent experienced a six percent to 14 percent increase, and 8 percent saw labor costs rise more than 15 percent. The…