Join us March 2-4 to gather practical takeaways that drive change and growth. Exclusively for restaurant operators, you’ll hear from industry visionaries, learn revenue-boosting strategies, and connect with peers and tech partners. Register before December 12 for perks like complimentary tee times or spa treatments (limited spots available).
Food trends for 2026
A report from Bank of America found that fresh menu offerings will be critical for driving much-needed traffic in 2026. So if you’re looking for a new LTO that will be the Dubai chocolate of 2026, here are some ideas:
Whole Foods predicts tallow, fiber, vinegars, and mindful sweets will be big.
FSRlauds Korean-Italian fusion, chewy textures, and says cinnamon rolls are the new croissants.
The Infatuationsays we’ll see creative hot dogs, Caesar salads, and Ozempic menus.
Datassentials predicts tea will be big, fiber is the new protein, and meat is back.
How Yoshinoya plans to win in 2026
Following a return to Olo, we spoke with Yoshinoya America’s Loyalty Marketing Manager, Michael Faustino, about the Japanese-inspired fast-casual brand's plans for next year.
What are your main goals for 2026? We’re focused on deepening guest loyalty and continuing to raise the bar on operational excellence in our stores. We want every interaction—from mobile order to in-store experience—to feel effortless and consistent. It’s all about creating more repeat guests by delivering great food, fast, with zero friction.
What tools or platforms are you leaning into most next year? We’re continuing to build around Olo for digital ordering and Punchh for loyalty and personalization, with a major mobile app upgrade launching in Q1 2026. It’ll introduce stored value and gift cards, streamline checkout, and make the entire ordering experience faster and more intuitive for guests.
Are you using AI currently? How do you envision AI in the near and long term? We’re already using AI for business analytics, reputation management, and guest sentiment tracking to better understand how people feel about the brand. We’re also tapping into predictive analytics for smarter forecasting and more targeted marketing. Long term, we see AI helping us serve guests more personally and efficiently, without ever losing the human touch that makes Yoshinoya special.
Planning your delivery, catering, and takeout strategy for 2026? Get industry benchmarks and insights from over 500 restaurant operators with a new survey from Olo and Nation’s Restaurant News.
Join us December 16 at 2 p.m. EST for a webinar covering the report's most important takeaways, like average commission for third-party delivery, fastest-growing off-premise segments, focus areas for 2026, and much more.
Resources for the busy season
With holiday season magic comes the stress of creating that magic, and your staff might need more walk-in quiet time than usual. Here are some things to keep your spirits up.
Wishing you a happy holiday season! You’ve got this!
FOR YOUR CALENDAR
See you next year!
We'll be back next month (in 2026!) with fresh news and insights. In the meantime, visit Olo’s Resource Center to explore restaurant trends and strategies to improve operations.
