Family Style: Foodservice Operations Innovate to Accommodate Young Families

Posted in Millennials on July 9, 2019

Post 209_Honey mustard chicken 1More mouths to feed, different foodservice needs. While millennials may seem renowned primarily as a coveted youth demographic, the fact is they’re maturing—and their foodservice needs are evolving.

According to the market research firm Technomic, 47% of millennials surveyed are parents, and among older millennials (34-41) the number increases to 54%.1 Along with Gen Z, they are the heaviest users of foodservice,2 and now that they have not only entered into adulthood but started families, many millennials present a smorgasbord of opportunities and challenges for foodservice operators.

With a near majority of millennials now parents, a new set of traffic drivers that reflect the concerns and needs of today’s busy parenting lifestyle has emerged for this core demographic. Technomic data shows that to maximize millennial traffic, foodservice operations need to be kid-friendly, with better-for-you menu variety, new and exciting products  and digital order/payment options (mobile, kiosk or tabletop).3

While they are neck-and-neck with Gen Z when it comes to off-premise dining,4 they lead the pack in foodservice app usage.5 Given the busy millennial parent’s need for ease and convenience, it makes sense to emphasize and expand to go and delivery options.  

More Menu Innovation Needed? No Kidding!

Kid-friendly menu innovation is a must for both on- and off-premises dining, with 44% of millennials living with kids saying that updating children’s menus with more sophisticated items would motivate them to patronage restaurants more often.6

“It’s clear that millennial parents expect more than previous generations did in terms of kids menu offerings,” reports Technomic. “Operators can start by cleaning up menus with healthier options, and some may want to go the extra step and feature organic or all-natural dishes.”6 Technomic also suggests adding one or two adventurous options to the mix to stand out in the market’s blur of staples like chicken fingers and hot dogs.6

Research from the National Restaurant Association determined that nearly six out of 10 consumers consider whether a restaurant is family or child-friendly when deciding where to dine out.7

In addition to a better-for-you kids’ menu, Fast Casual, an online source of news and research for the fast casual restaurant category, recommends providing games or devices to keep kids occupied while waiting for food, training staff to serve young guests and having dedicated family nights.7 What’s more, because children can be especially susceptible to food-borne illnesses, food safety becomes all the more critical.7

Restaurant Operations Welcome Fresh Approaches into the Family

Of course, the frontline in the battle to win over families remains food, and restaurants are cooking up heaping helpings of culinary ingenuity to accommodate them.

Firebirds Wood Fried Grill, the Charlotte, N.C.-based casual steak chain with 49 locations, provides ample opportunities for customers to customize meals for kids and adults with “mix and match” entrees and two side dish options.

Headquartered in Coppell, Texas, the 550-unit pizza buffet chain Cicis Pizza, offers a budget-friendly kids’ buffet every Tuesday. As CEO Bill Mitchell explained, “Our key fundamentals have always been value, variety and fun in a welcoming environment.”8

Los Angeles-based fast-casual chain Tender Greens offers $7 “little plates” that allow kids to
choose a protein like salt-and-pepper grilled chicken, steak or fried chicken, which is paired with mashed potatoes, fruit or other side dishes.

Let our chefs elevate your children’s menu and make your operation more appetizing to families with recipes like our Savory Mac & Cheese with RITZ Crackers and Celebration Milkshake Made with OREO Cookie Pieces. For more information and customized solutions, reach out below.

1 Technomic, Generational Trend Report , 2018, p.20

2 Technomic, p. 40

3 Technomic, p. 60

4 Technomic, p. 22

5 Technomic, p. 74

6 Technomic, p. 76

7 Fast Casual, The Pros and Cons of Family-Friendly Restaurants, Sept. 6, 2018

8 Fantozzi, Joanna, "How 3 restaurant brands are updating their kids' menus," Nation's Restaurant News, Apr. 9, 2019

Topics in this article

Related Articles

Sweet Spots: Dessert Diversification Bites and Insights

Indulgent desserts are trending as key to a balanced approach to wellbeing. Explore the diversity of desserts hitting the sweet spot in foodservice today.

Transforming Nostalgic Desserts into New Formats

Basing desserts on a classic dish or nostalgic flavor is a growing trend — which operators can utilize to boost consumer interest and orders.

Social Media Feeds Menu Inspiration, Promotion

Get tips for improving your social media presence and leveraging social media as a tool for your restaurant and convenience store.

All About Newstalgia in Desserts

Tweaking familiar dishes to include a new flavor or format could be the menu addition that will pique consumer interest and help increase sales.

Asian Flavors & Formats Feed Dessert Inspiration

Flavors found in a number of dishes traditionally served in Southeast Asia are helping to inspire creative dessert menu options with widespread appeal.

Grab-and-Go Breakfast Inspiration

Grab-and-go breakfast items can satisfy customer cravings for convenience—but to make sales soar, operators need to include the right elements.

Global Street Foods Offer Portable Culinary Experiences

Global trends around street foods are having an increasing impact on restaurant menus in 2023 and beyond. Learn more about these trends.

How to Use Sweet Treats to Help Drive Profits

An enticing dessert menu can translate into higher sales — if restaurants are able to offer sweet treats that deliver what consumers want.

Perking Up Profits: What’s Brewing in the Coffee Shop Segment

Coffee shops continue to generate buzz and big sales. Explore data-informed insights into the strategies driving the success of Starbucks and Dutch Bros.

Winter Seasonal Desserts: Tips and Trends

Use these winter dessert trends and tips to boost profits throughout the holiday season and beyond.

Join the Let’s Chat Snacks Community

Be the first to know when we drop new articles, trends and insights, with updates delivered directly to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get an insider perspective on all things foodservice, carefully curated to help you grow your business.