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10 onsite dining predictions for 2022

After nearly two years of pandemic-imposed restrictions and adjustments, here are 10 trends we expect to impact onsite dining programs in the coming year.

Mike Buzalka, Executive Features Editor

December 14, 2021

10 Slides
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In a few months, we’ll see the two-year anniversary of the start of the most transformative event in recent history, superseding even 9-11 and the 2008 stock market crash in the impact is has had, and will continue to have, on onsite dining programs, not to mention just about everything else. That event of course is the emergence of the COVID-19 coronavirus in March 2020, which forced shutdowns and social restrictions that continue in some form to this day.

For the various markets that constitute the onsite dining universe, the impacts of COVID were devastating, forcing some such as sports/recreation concessions and conference/convention center catering to come to a complete halt while most others saw steep declines in business. The advent of vaccines early this year has allowed a mitigation of restrictions, though new virus variants may threaten that easing.

Nevertheless, most observers seem to anticipate a continued crawl back to some semblance of “normal” in the coming year and it is on that assumption that we base the following trend predictions…

About the Author

Mike Buzalka

Executive Features Editor, Food Management

Mike Buzalka is executive features editor for Food Management and contributing editor to Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News. On Food Management, Mike has lead responsibility for compiling the annual Top 50 Contract Management Companies as well as the K-12, College, Hospital and Senior Dining Power Players listings. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature from John Carroll University. Before joining Food Management in 1998, he served as for eight years as assistant editor and then editor of Foodservice Distributor magazine. Mike’s personal interests range from local sports such as the Cleveland Indians and Browns to classic and modern literature, history and politics.

Mike Buzalka’s areas of expertise include operations, innovation and technology topics in onsite foodservice industry markets like K-12 Schools, Higher Education, Healthcare and Business & Industry.

Mike Buzalka’s experience:

Executive Features Editor, Food Management magazine (2010-present)

Contributing Editor, Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News (2016-present)

Associate Editor, Food Management magazine (1998-2010)

Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1997-1998)

Assistant Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1989-1997)

 

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