Restaurant trends are as fickle as March showers. Just one glance at social media and we see trends change hour by hour. But while menus change and tastes fluctuate, there are certain trends that are here to stay, at least for 2025.
In 2024, we saw the rapid adoption of AI in restaurant operations, soaring inflation across the UK, and sustainability emerging as a critical necessity for businesses moving forward.
With that in mind, we’re taking a look at what’s going to be on the menu in the coming months. Here are our top hospitality trends for 2025:
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The personal touch
“Whether operators are focused on opening new locations or revamping their social media marketing efforts, one factor remains the same – establishing personal relationships with diners is the strongest way to build and maintain loyal customers.” SevenRooms reported in August 2024.
Pairing this with Lightspeed’s latest survey, which highlighted that almost 9/10 diners (89%) would want to recommend a restaurant, hotel, or hospitality setting that prioritises personalised experiences, it’s a trend that restaurateurs can’t afford to overlook as they plan for 2025.
So, with the proof in the pudding, personalised marketing is set to be one of the most impactful trends for the upcoming year, offering restaurants a unique way to build deeper connections with their customers. With tools like Loyale and Marsello which integrate with Lightspeed Restaurant, operators can collect valuable data—from email addresses to birthdays and location preferences—and use it to craft tailored marketing strategies.
For instance, embedding a sign-up form on your website or using pop-up boxes can help grow your subscriber list while gathering details like date of birth or location. This enables restaurants to send targeted emails such as birthday specials, local event invites, or personalised offers for repeat customers. Additionally, platforms like Mailchimp or Como allow operators to track essential email metrics—such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates—ensuring their efforts are not only engaging but effective.
While it may seem a little time-consuming at first, embracing these strategies means more than just hopping on a trend. Instead, it’s becoming an essential approach for building loyalty, increasing engagement, and driving success for your restaurant business in 2025.
AI, here to help
AI, it’s the word on everyone’s lips. But whether you’re a skeptic and enthusiast, it’s evident that AI is rapidly reshaping the restaurant industry, offering solutions that streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and help businesses overcome challenges like labour shortages and inflation. As 2025 approaches, the growing role of AI in hospitality will continue to transform how restaurants engage with customers and manage their day-to-day tasks.
52% of customers believe that generative AI will soon play a role in their interactions with restaurants, while 44% expect it to improve guest engagement, according to a recent survey by Deloitte. This shift toward AI-powered tools, like conversational chatbots and automation systems, frees up valuable time for restaurant teams, enabling them to focus on the aspects of their business that matter most: culinary creativity and providing exceptional service.
Moreover, AI’s potential extends beyond automating routine tasks; it can also be a game-changer for content creation. Large Language Models (LLMs) are revolutionising marketing efforts, enabling restaurants to easily generate high-quality content such as engaging menu descriptions and targeted email campaigns. For example, Lightspeed’s data shows that restaurants with visually appealing, detailed menu content see significant increases in conversion rates. With LLMs, restaurants can quickly create content in multiple languages, allowing them to better serve diverse customer bases, particularly in regions like Europe where many languages are spoken across countries.
As AI continues to evolve, it will provide restaurants with the tools they need to keep up with the demands of an increasingly tech-savvy consumer base, while also improving efficiency, enhancing guest interactions, and making daily operations more sustainable.
Sustainable savings
In 2025, technology will continue to be a game-changer for sustainability in the restaurant industry. As customer expectations shift, with 90% of people agreeing that adopting sustainable practices is crucial for the hospitality sector (according to Lightspeed’s latest survey), two trends will be leading the charge: going paperless and tackling food waste head-on.
Ditch the paper
Restaurants can burn through a lot of paper—and cash—on things like paper chits and printed menus. But the good news is, advances in technology are making it easier than ever to go digital. By switching to QR code ordering and digital management systems, restaurants can not only cut down on paper waste but also boost their sustainability creds while saving money. As 43% of consumers expect sustainability to be a top priority by 2025, adopting paperless practices can help your restaurant stay ahead of the curve and meet these rising customer demands.
Cutting Down on Waste
Spoiled stock, overproduction, and mismanaged inventory are costing restaurants more than just cash—they’re also hurting customer trust. With sustainability top of mind for diners, food waste is something restaurants can’t afford to overlook. In fact, locally sourced ingredients (61%), reduced plastic use (53%), and food waste reduction (62%) are also among the top sustainable practices diners hope to see in 2025 according to Lightspeed, underscoring customers’ expectations for both transparency and environmental responsibility.
So, investing in smart, data-driven software that helps predict consumption and reduce waste is a savvy move. Integrating inventory management tools into your ePOS system can save time, cut costs, and keep your customers happy—all while aligning with the increasing expectation for sustainable dining practices.
Hyper-local sourcing
Sourcing ingredients closer to home is a trend that will continue to gain momentum as consumers grow increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their food choices. According to a Lightspeed research study conducted in November 2024, 90% of respondents believe that adopting sustainable practices is essential for the hospitality sector, and 43% expect sustainability to become a top priority by 2025.
Of the respondents, 61% expressed a desire to see more locally sourced ingredients on menus. This highlights that embracing seasonal, homegrown produce could enhance sustainability efforts while attracting more customers through restaurant doors.
Green Michelin-starred Lightspeed customer Silo is the world’s first zero-waste restaurant, and a fantastic example of hyper-local sourcing. From the food on the plate to the crockery it’s served on, and the furniture itself, every part of the Silo restaurant comes from a desire to be respectful to the environment.
“We have our own flour mill that turns ancient varieties of wheat into flour the analogue way, opposing industrial bread making processes. We churn our own butter, roll our own oats and support a root to leaf ideology, meaning that if an animal dies or a vegetable is harvested for food we will maximise its entire potential, respectfully.” Silo explained.
“Zero waste doesn’t exist without a network of suppliers who are just as committed to the cause as we are. To achieve zero waste, all products delivered to the restaurant come in reusable, returnable vessels such as crates, pails and urns. This idea isn’t revolutionary, it’s how businesses used to operate. This is what we mean by a pre-industrial food system.” added Silo.
As diners increasingly favour locally sourced produce, this trend is likely to shape menu offerings in the year ahead. According to Bidfood, the emphasis on local ingredients is clear, with dishes featuring Scottish salmon, Aberdeen Angus steak, Welsh lamb, and regional favourites like Welsh rarebit, Welsh cakes, potato farls, colcannon, stovies, and Lorne sausage expected to make a bigger appearance on menus.
Sandwich superstars prevail
Much like the top menu trends of 2024, the prized sandwich continues to reign for another year. According to Bidfood, buns and bowls are the stars, with a growing focus on premium sandwiches and on-the-go dishes.
Gone are the days of soggy sandwiches; now it’s all about towering toasties and filled flatbreads. Sandwiches are having a moment, with cafes and bakeries stepping up their game.
Lightspeed customer Toklas Bakery serves up stacked sarnies made with sourdough or focaccia, with daily-changing fillings that showcase the best of the season, from cauliflower fritters to butter bean hummus and pickled red onions.
Whether you’re looking to add jam-packed sandwiches to your menu or experimenting with new takes on a classic favourite, the humble sandwich is definitely here to stay.
Insights for a changing industry
If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that no obstacle can withstand the inexhaustible creativity and unwavering determination of the hospitality industry. And it seems elements of AI, the prevalence of sustainability as well as intuitive restaurant tech can help restaurants satisfy the ever-changing desires of customers and diners.
Want to know how Lightspeed can help your hospitality business thrive in 2025 and beyond? Let’s talk.
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