When they started going to university in the 2010s\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We started studying teenagers\u2019 university preferences<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And when they started using social media in the 2020s\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n We started studying young adults\u2019 spiritual and mental health.<\/span><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because Gen Z<\/a> has always <\/em>been a hot topic of discussion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether they\u2019re making waves in social justice or breaking the internet with pop culture, the \u201cZoomer\u201d impact is a palpable one \u2014 and it\u2019s finally reached the restaurant industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the past few years, we\u2019ve watched Gen Z influence the restaurant industry, bringing their digital-first lifestyle to QSRs and coffee shops alike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, restaurants are getting ready to adapt as Gen Z reshapes the future of restaurant technology\u2026 one TikTok at a time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gen Z is the most common term for folks born between 1997 and 2012* (although \u201cZoomers\u201d is pretty fun, too). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Currently, Gen Z makes up 30%<\/span><\/a> of the global population, with over ~68 million<\/span><\/a> Gen Zs in the United States alone. But, despite these massive numbers of people deemed to be from the \u201csame\u201d generation Gen Z is anything but \u201chomogenous<\/span><\/a>;\u201d your 12-year-old cousin starting high school and your 27-year-old friend starting a new career are both<\/em> Gen Zs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n (Wild, right?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of that decade-and-a-half Gen Z gap, research<\/span><\/a> has revealed a ton of generation-wide similarities, trends, and traits \u2014 for Gen Zs both \u201cnew\u201d and \u201cold.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2192 Gen Z is the most \u201cdiverse generation in history\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2192 Gen Z has never existed in a world without cell phones <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2192 Gen Z is more likely to be college-educated than other generations <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2192 Gen Z is more likely to \u201cwant an activist government\u201d than other generations <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2192 Gen Z is more open-minded with their views of family dynamics and composition<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a few other similarities disproportionately shared by Gen Zs, too: their experience of the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2192 50%<\/span><\/a> of Gen Zs (18-23) reported household pay cuts\/job losses because of the pandemic<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2192 59%<\/span><\/a> of Gen Zs (13-18) reported that online learning was \u201cmuch worse\u201d than in-person<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2192 31%<\/span><\/a> of Gen Zs (13-18) said they felt \u201cemotionally prepared\u201d to socialize in person<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2192 Gen Zs of all ages had more stress and worry about health and financial security<\/span><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Combine Gen Z\u2019s pandemic-induced struggles with unemployment with their frequent experience of unstable political\/social landscapes, and you get a very unique set of spending habits\u2026 but not in the way you might think. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because Gen Zs are young, a common assumption is that they\u2019re bad with money. But, a Gen Z Planet survey<\/span><\/a> revealed that 85% of Gen Zs save up to half of their income. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And, whatever money they have left? That\u2019s spent intentionally. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Gen Zs prioritize purchases from brands that demonstrate meaningful, change-making action. From featuring \u201cdiversity and inclusion in product and advertising<\/span><\/a>\u201d to allowing customers to be \u201cpart of the brand conversation<\/span><\/a>,\u201d Gen Z prefers to spend their money where they feel it counts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n *Note: You might have seen Gen Z\u2019s generational range as 1996-2012 or 1995-2010 before. We\u2019re choosing to use Pew Research Center\u2019s range of 1997-2012, but it\u2019s sort of a tomato, tomah-to situation\u2026 these cutoffs aren\u2019t the most <\/em>exact science<\/span><\/em><\/a> on the planet.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n At this point, we know that Gen Z is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n But simple \u201cknowing\u201d Gen Z is no longer enough \u2014their generation is shaping the future of restaurant technology as we know it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And, if you want your restaurant to be a part<\/em> of that future\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s how you can follow in Gen Z\u2019s trailblazing footsteps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Two things you need to know about Gen Z\u2019s restaurant preferences: they want things to be digital, and they want \u2018em to be convenient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “I think speed and convenience are paramount to Gen Z. They want things now, meaning whatever easiest order mode they can get their food as quickly as possible, that’s usually what they’re doing<\/span><\/a>,” Andy Rebhun, CMO of El Pollo Loco, said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a 2022 survey by Afterpay<\/span><\/a>, 66% of Gen Zs said they use technology when they shop. And, what\u2019s more, 40%<\/span><\/a> of Gen Z respondents said they prefer online shopping because it\u2019s available from anywhere at any time. Or, in other words\u2026 it\u2019s incredibly convenient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For Gen Z, digital-powered convenience is not just a \u201cwant\u201d \u2014 it\u2019s a \u201cneed,\u201d too. In 2022, 46%<\/span><\/a> of Gen Z employees took on a second job, with more recent data<\/span><\/a> suggesting some folks are even working three jobs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With their increasingly busy schedules and strong preferences for digital ordering, Gen Z is practically spelling out the solution: a fast, easy-to-use mobile app. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our solution \u2192 Make digital your default with a highly convenient <\/em>Craver app<\/span><\/em><\/a>.<\/span> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Gen Z has been called \u201csocially and environmentally conscious<\/span><\/a>\u201d on more than one occasion, a commitment that\u2019s often reflected in their buying habits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “My choice to purchase from a certain brand is definitely driven by their support of social causes. I would not shop at a place that did not support my social beliefs.<\/span><\/a>\u201d – Cameron, 24 years old, New York<\/p>\n\n\n\n A brand\u2019s stance on issues like mental health and sustainability \u2014 among others<\/span><\/a> \u2014 dictates whether or not they have support from Gen Z consumers. And, when businesses prove they actually <\/em>value the things they say <\/em>they do, Gen Z is more than happy to reward them for it; 56%<\/span><\/a> of Gen Z shoppers would happily spend more on a sustainably sourced product, for example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This presents an amazing opportunity for small restaurants to swoop in, highlighting how they do things differently (read: better<\/em>) than the big guys. Roundel says<\/span><\/a> the best Gen Z-forward brand messaging is \u201cconsistent, authentic, and transparent\u2019 \u2014 the same values many local and small businesses are already upholding, anyway! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our solution \u2192 Empower your community to support you directly with a <\/em>Craver app<\/span><\/em><\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike previous generations, Gen Z\u2019s philosophy is about embracing individuality, celebrating uniqueness, and ditching tradition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And, perhaps counterintuitively, that commitment to standing out is actually how you fit in. \u201c[Going] niche and being cool is about standing out,\u201d says Maxine Gurevich<\/span><\/a>, Horizon Media\u2019s Senior VP for Cultural Intelligence. \u201c[It\u2019s] being as unique as you possibly can in order to fit in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That applies to restaurants, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a 2023 survey<\/span><\/a> by apc and ICXA, 100% of respondents \u2014 yes, 100% \u2014 said they prefer restaurant experiences that they \u201ccan\u2019t get elsewhere.\u201d Combine that craving for exclusivity with Gen Zs post-pandemic preference for hanging out and socializing<\/span><\/a> at restaurants, and you\u2019ve got the secret to a Gen Z hotspot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our solution \u2192 Boost exclusivity with limited-time offers and deals through <\/em>Craver\u2019s platform<\/span><\/em><\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n At this point, we know that Gen Z works incredibly hard for their money and that they love \u201ccan\u2019t be found elsewhere\u201d experiences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, how can you give Gen Z the best of both money-saving and <\/em>exclusivity? Simple \u2014you can craft a stellar loyalty or rewards program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to apc and ICXA<\/span><\/a>, 98% of Gen Zs said that joining a restaurant\u2019s rewards program was \u201cimportant\u201d to them. So important, in fact, that rewards programs can easily swap brand loyalty \u2014 the top reason<\/span><\/a> Gen Z diners switch food service operators is their rewards program (or lack thereof). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether or not a business even has a rewards program can be a \u201cmake or break\u201d for Gen Zs deciding where to lend their loyalty\u2026 so why not give them exactly what they want? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our solution \u2192 Start a <\/em>rewards program with Craver<\/span><\/em><\/a> and boost brand loyalty. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Knowing Gen Z has a strong penchant for individuality, their commitment to customizability isn\u2019t a surprising one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n From skyrocketing Starbucks cold drink sales (which you can read more about here<\/span><\/a>) to encouraging better Sweetgreen suggestions<\/span><\/a>, \u201cGen Z\u201d and \u201ccustomization\u201d are just about synonymous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking for ideas to customize<\/em> your Gen Z connection \u2014 bad tum<\/em> tss \u2014 <\/em> Morning Consult says<\/span><\/a> \u201cnovelty and experimentation\u201d is the way to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re trying something bold with \u201cnew product innovation<\/span><\/a>\u201d or spicing up existing offers with \u201cnew flavor combinations<\/span><\/a>,\u201d the bottom line is the same: Gen Z wants to buy products that truly feel like their own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Customization is how you empower them to do just that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our solution \u2192 Simplify the customization process with a <\/em>Craver app<\/span><\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout the next decade, the size (and impact) of Gen Z is going to explode. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They\u2019ll make up 27%<\/span><\/a> of the workforce, represent over \u2153<\/span><\/a> of global consumers, and have an estimated 52%<\/span><\/a> share of global retail spend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, what can you do? <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Gen](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Gen-Z-on-TikTok.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA Brief Intro to Gen Z: The Digital Generation <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Covid Effect <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gen Z Finances<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"McDonald's](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/McDonalds-social-campaign-.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to Attract Gen Z to Your Restaurant <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
1. Go Digital for Convenience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Craver](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Craver-mobile-apps-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Strive to Be & Do Better<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Make it Exclusive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Focus on Loyalty & Rewards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Craver](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Craver-rewards.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5. Be Innovative & Customizable<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Wrap Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n