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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.

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BIGGBY COFFEE

 BIGGBY® COFFEE Cracks Top 200 on Franchise Times Top 400, Climbing More Than 100 Spots in Four Years

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KidStrong Franchising, LLC

KidStrong Franchise - Sabrina Du - Steve Do - Tampa - 1851 Franchise

Why a KidStrong Franchise Fits This Family’s Next Chapter

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Layne's Chicken Fingers

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 Layne’s Chicken Fingers Signs 44-Unit Deal, Reaches Near-Total Market Saturation Across Home State

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Griswold

How Griswold Empowers Families and Franchisees During National Home Care & Hospice Month

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ServiceMaster Restore

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ServiceMaster Restore Partners With Monarch Weather To Deliver Hyperlocal, Actionable Forecasting

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

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