Restaurants getting squeezed
Full‑service restaurants have raised prices 25–35% since 2020, are shrinking portions and trimming premium ingredients — consumers are shifting to grocery prepared kits (Trader Joe’s, Costco) that look cheaper and higher‑protein (x.com). McKinsey notes the sector is racing toward AI and robotics for efficiency, but warns human connection still drives repeat customers — fertilizer supply risks from the Middle East conflict could add another inflation leg (x.com).
Supermarkets are actively expanding their ready-to-eat assortments — a Technomic-backed Supermarket News survey found retailers are increasing prepared-food space to capture convenience-driven shoppers. (supermarketnews.com) A consumer survey cited by the Food Institute reported 72% of respondents had consistently purchased or increased consumption of ready-to-eat meals this year, and meal‑delivery platforms earlier reported record order volumes that helped lift retail prepared‑food demand. (foodinstitute.com) Restaurant operators are signaling heavier tech investment: the National Restaurant Association’s 2024 research shows 47% of operators expect technology and automation to become more common to address labor shortages. (restaurant.org) Vendors are moving from pilots into paid rollouts — Miso Robotics reported Flippy fry‑station units deployed across roughly 20 sites including Jack in the Box and White Castle under a robotics‑as‑a‑service model. (misorobotics.com) (roboticsandautomationnews.com) Voice‑AI and drive‑thru automation are scaling too: Presto’s systems are active across a dozen brands and “hundreds” of locations, and the company raised a $10 million funding round to expand deployments. (restaurantbusinessonline.com) Market signals that could push input costs again: Rabobank estimates roughly 25–30% of global seaborne nitrogen fertilizer exports transit the Strait of Hormuz, and recent Middle East shipping disruptions have tightened flows and lifted urea prices to multi‑year highs. (rabobank.com) The price squeeze is already visible in commodities data and coverage: Bloomberg and the World Bank reported governments scrambling to secure fertilizer ahead of spring planting as fertilizer markets and shipping routes were disrupted, and World Bank indices showed fertilizer prices rising in early 2026. (bloomberg.com 1) (bloomberg.com 2) To avoid heavy upfront capital, some chains and vendors are adopting subscription or RaaS (robotics‑as‑a‑service) pricing — Miso advertises monthly fees that the company says can be lower than the cost of a full‑time employee while operators are advised to match tech choices to their customer base in the NRA’s technology landscape guidance. (misorobotics.com) (roboticsandautomationnews.com)
