Surprisingly, almost one fifth (19%) said they expect their holiday spread to include at least one fast-food dish this year.

Comfort foods like classic soups and stews remain in demand, providing emotional connection for consumers.

"Nearly half of brands expect AI to transform their efficiency, yet many are still figuring out where to start," said Paytronix general manager.

Technomic.found half of Black and 48% of Hispanic U.S. consumers say they "visit foodservice more than once a week."