1851

After nearly three years, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1174156/caterer-industry-market-size-us/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-catering-is-on-the-menu-this-thanksgiving-and-why-franchise-brands-should-take-note-2720465" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$12 billion&nbsp;</a>catering industry is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pymnts.com/news/retail/2022/grocery-stores-will-be-big-winners-this-holiday-season/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-catering-is-on-the-menu-this-thanksgiving-and-why-franchise-brands-should-take-note-2720465" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">surpassing</a> its pre-COVID revenue levels with a larger portion of total food sales than ever before — just in time for Thanksgiving.&nbsp;Catering was already on an upswing this year due to the&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/as-the-demand-for-flexible-workspaces-has-grown-30-iwg-parent-of-regus-spaces-and-other-flexible-workspace-brands-targets-1000-additional-locations-2720214#featured">return to office headwinds</a> following the pandemic. “In the first half of 2022, we’ve seen nearly a 20% increase in customers searching for ‘catering’ on Instacart compared to the same period last year,” Instacart Vice President of Product&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanettemedlinbarlow/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-catering-is-on-the-menu-this-thanksgiving-and-why-franchise-brands-should-take-note-2720465" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jeanette Barlow</a> said in a statement.Now,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/hope-incoming-a-look-at-whats-ahead-for-the-franchise-industry-2718786">inflation</a> and record high grocery prices have officially made it more affordable to order out than to cook at home for the first time in decades, a recent Wells Fargo&nbsp;<a href="https://global.wf.com/hub_blog/year-dine-thanksgiving/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-catering-is-on-the-menu-this-thanksgiving-and-why-franchise-brands-should-take-note-2720465" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">analysis</a> finds. Price hikes in the retail sphere are up 10.8%, while restaurants are only seeing a 7.2% increase in menu pricing,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nrn.com/finance/inflation-growth-slows-slightly-full-service-menu-prices-climb-record-high?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-catering-is-on-the-menu-this-thanksgiving-and-why-franchise-brands-should-take-note-2720465" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nation’s Restaurant News reports</a>.And with the added bonus of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/02/turkey-shortage-thanksgiving-2022?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-catering-is-on-the-menu-this-thanksgiving-and-why-franchise-brands-should-take-note-2720465" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">turkey</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://nypost.com/2022/09/15/thanksgiving-could-be-ruined-amid-looming-cranberry-shortage/?fbclid=IwAR190rjSmxzje2aKLj2PwY_PMleMGhFs459qAMyCdROStsk_A64u0zGtXUw&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-catering-is-on-the-menu-this-thanksgiving-and-why-franchise-brands-should-take-note-2720465" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">cranberry</a> shortages, more Americans are choosing to opt out of home-cooked Thanksgiving meals altogether this year. Instead, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/study-almost-half-guests-will-order-thanksgiving-meals-restaurants?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-catering-is-on-the-menu-this-thanksgiving-and-why-franchise-brands-should-take-note-2720465" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">survey</a> this month by Popmenu found that 45% of U.S. consumers plan to order all or part of their Thanksgiving meal from restaurants.For many restaurant franchisors, catering can greatly improve revenue due to its high margins and high order values. Similar to&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/top-ghost-kitchen-franchise-opportunities-of-2022-2718241">ghost kitchens</a>, adding a catering strategy allows restaurants to leverage their existing kitchen and established following to carve out a new revenue stream. When done right, catering can improve a restaurant’s exposure, bring in higher profits and enhance a restaurant’s customer service image, especially around the holidays.Over the past year, several major franchisors, including QSR giants like Jimmy John's, Subway and Chick-Fil-A, have successfully added catering components to their operations. Popeyes was even selling a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/10/19/popeyes-thanksgiving-turkey-orders-prices?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-catering-is-on-the-menu-this-thanksgiving-and-why-franchise-brands-should-take-note-2720465" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cajun-style Thanksgiving turkey</a> this year, which cost $94.99 with delivery, but it appears they are already sold out.Related articles:<ul><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/looking-to-add-additional-revenue-for-your-restaurant-think-catering-4660#stories">Looking to Add Additional Revenue for Your Restaurant - Think Catering</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/menu-prices-are-rising-to-record-breaking-highs-2717175">Menu Prices Are Rising to Record-Breaking Highs</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/shuckinshack/shuckin-shack-ceo-explains-why-grocery-price-hikes-lead-to-restaurant-sales-2718941#stories">Shuckin’ Shack CEO Explains Why Grocery Price Hikes Lead to Restaurant Sales</a></li></ul>

Why Catering is On the Menu This Thanksgiving and Why Franchise Brands Should Take Note

1851 Franchise

According to recently released data, it's more economical for the first time in decades to dine out on Thanksgiving than to shop for, cook and clean up after a traditional meal.

why-catering-is-on-the-menu-this-thanksgiving-and-why-franchise-brands-should-take-note

Layne's Chicken Fingers

image of laynes chicken finger restaurant with 4 hands holding cups in the air to celebrate 

 Layne’s Chicken Fingers Crosses Mid-Year Mark With 11 New Restaurants Opened, Including the First Time the Brand has Seen Two Openings on the Same Day on July 14

laynes-chicken-franchise-growth-2025

HomeTeam Inspection Service

image of an employee from home team checking an outlet with an ipad

HomeTeam Inspection Service Franchise Owners Diversify Income With Multi-Service Model

hometeam-inspection-service-revenue-streams

Right at Home

image of jennifer selden right at home franchisee for a webinar with nick powills

Right at Home Franchise Owner Jennifer Selden To Share Franchise Journey, Sparked by Personal Care Experiences

jennifer-selden-right-at-home-franchise-journey-webinar

Paris Baguette Canada

image of a paris baguette bakery cafe latte with delicious food, croissants, and pastries

What Paris Baguette Franchisees Have To Say About Their Experiences

paris-baguette-franchise-canada-eric-chang

image of right at home franchisee gregory brewer for a webinar with nick powills

Gregory Brewer To Share 20-Year Franchise Journey With Right at Home in Upcoming Webinar

gregory-brewer-right-at-home-franchise-winston-salem-webinar

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

AI Is Reshaping Franchising: $100 Billion Valuations and Hyper-Localized Advertising

ai-is-reshaping-franchising-100-billion-valuations-and-hyper-localized-advertising

Mega Franchisee Sizzling Platter Acquired by Bain Capital

mega-franchisee-sizzling-platter-acquired-by-bain-capital

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Blending Tech, Hospitality and Health Care: How Three Women From Different Worlds Came Together to Build a Paris Baguette Franchise

paris-baguette-franchise-flower-mound-texas

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Sola Salons Franchisee Grows Salon Freedom Into a Multi-State Powerhouse 

sola-salons-franchisee-grows-salon-freedom-into-a-multi-state-powerhouse

Why Catering is On the Menu This Thanksgiving and Why Franchise Brands Should Take Note

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS