How Grubhub’s 2024 Delivery Trends Will Impact Small Restaurant Owners

Protein Power: Chicken Rules the Roost

Chicken isn’t just crossing the road—it’s dominating Grubhub orders, making up a whopping 40% of meals. Clearly, people are flocking to protein-packed goodness! If you’re a small restaurant owner, here’s how to ride this protein wave:

• Double Down on Protein: Offer customizable options like extra protein or quirky pairings (chicken and… tofu, anyone?) to reel in health nuts and meal-preppers.
• Cottage Cheese Comeback: Yes, cottage cheese is back, and it’s ready to be the Beyoncé of your menu. Whip up dishes like cottage cheese toast or flatbreads to impress the protein enthusiasts and make your menu trendier than a TikTok dance challenge.

Get creative, and watch your customers flex their forks and muscles at the same time!

Espresso Yourself: Riding the Coffee Craze

The caffeine craze is real, folks—15,000 latte variations ordered this year alone! That’s enough to fuel a small army of sleep-deprived college students and office workers. Want to cash in on this buzz? Here’s your recipe for success:

• Brew-tiful Creations: Add a splash of creativity to your menu with funky espresso variations or seasonal blends that scream, “Drink me, I’m trendy!”
• Bean There, Collaborated That: Partner with local roasters to give your coffee game some serious street cred. Nothing says “authentic” like a custom roast named after your café.
• Peak Perks Promotions: If your spot caters to students or 9-to-5 warriors, go full throttle on coffee delivery during midterms or the dreaded morning meetings. Think of it as caffeine therapy delivered straight to their door.

Because when life gives you espresso, you make a latte… or 15,000 of them.

Get Swicy With It: The Sweet + Spicy Sensation

Move over, ketchup and mayo—there’s a new flavor duo in town, and it’s hotter (and sweeter) than your grandma’s secret chili recipe. The “swicy” trend is taking over, and here’s how to jump on the bandwagon:

• Hot Honey, Meet Everything: Drizzle that golden magic over fried chicken, French fries, or even pizzas. Because why not turn “cheat day” into “cheat masterpiece”?
• Swicy = Spicy + Sweet + Smart Marketing: Sell these combos as daring and delicious, perfect for diners who think pineapple on pizza is child’s play. Let your menu scream, “For the bold and brave!”

Swicy isn’t just a trend; it’s a lifestyle. And trust us, your customers are ready to live the sweet and spicy dream.

Make Family Meals a Big Deal

With over 1.6 million family meals ordered on Grubhub this year, it’s clear people love eating together—even if it means arguing over the last breadstick. Here’s how to make your restaurant the go-to for group grub:

• Bundle Up: Create family-sized options or bundle deals so irresistible, they’ll have customers saying, “Let’s get this instead of cooking!” (because who really wants to wash dishes?).
• Packaging Goals: Make sure your packaging can survive the trip, keep food warm, and maybe even reheat without turning lasagna into a brick.

Convenience is king—after all, this isn’t amateur hour.
Because nothing brings people together like a family meal… or fighting over who gets the last slice.

Pickle Power: Brine Time to Shine

Pickles are taking over the culinary world with a 14% boost in popularity—yes, even in soda. (Don’t knock it till you try it!) If you’re a small restaurant, here’s how to jump on this briny bandwagon:

• Pickle-Palooza Menu: Serve up pickle-brined chicken sandwiches or get fancy with pickle juice cocktails. Because nothing says “trendsetter” like sipping brine with a twist.
• Marketing with a Dill-ightful Touch: Make these items the star of your menu, hyping them up as bold, trendy, and a bit tangy—just like your customers like it.

It’s time to ride the pickle wave and show your diners you’re kind of a big dill.

Convenience is King: Hot Dogs and Beyond

If convenience stores are cashing in on made-to-order hot dogs, why not let your restaurant get a bite of the action? Here’s how to make your menu the MVP of fast, delicious eats:

• Grab-and-Go Goodness: Add quick, portable meals to your menu for the busy bees who barely have time to chew. Think handheld delights that scream, “Eat me anywhere!”
• Package Perfection: Streamline your delivery game with packaging so efficient it’ll make late-night snackers and on-the-go munchers say, “Wow, they really get me.”

Because in the race for convenience, you don’t just want to keep up—you want to ketchup.

Convenience is King: Hot Dogs and Beyond

The National Business Association has authored and curated resources on various topics and in multiple formats that will help you achieve your goals. Whether you are considering starting your first business or if you are a seasoned entrepreneur, there is something in this Resource section of the NBA website that will be helpful. We hope you find this article useful.

Providing relevant resources in an easy-to-navigate format is one of the many ways that the NBA accomplishes its mission of helping small businesses succeed. It fulfills our vision of being an indispensable resource for the self-employed, small business owners, and entrepreneurs. If you are interested in a deeper relationship with the NBA, sign up for our free email newsletter or learn about becoming a member by clicking on the “Join the NBA” link above.