MRM Research Roundup: Catering, Kiosks, Tipping and Dry January

11 Min Read By MRM Staff

In this edition of MRM Research Roundup, we feature news about an influx of catering orders, the topic of tipping, the rise of kiosks and affordable Michelin restaurants. Q4 Restaurant TrendsToast released its Q4 2023 Restaurant Trends report that examined catering activity around the holidays, large events, cold-weather food and alcohol preferences, and weekly tipping trends. 

Among the highlights:

On or Off Prem

Same-store catering transactions increased +71 percent in Q4 2023 compared to Q4 2022. Of that increase, 30 percent came through Catering Online Ordering, which launched in Q3 2023. On average, catering orders ticket sizes in Q4 2023 were $160.

Generally speaking, Tuesdays (+25 percent) and Wednesdays (+26 percent) are the busiest days for catering orders. Catering orders also saw a significant bump the week before Thanksgiving and a steady build-up during the first three weeks of December. On Friday, November 17, there were 92 percent more catering orders than…