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Choosing the ideal location for a food franchise, especially at a college campus, requires understanding consumers’ needs and wants, and staying in tune with the latest industry trends. Dining options on college campuses have changed drastically over the past decade, and franchisors must be prepared to provide customers with new and exciting dining experiences. Here’s a list of the top 10 things to consider when researching college dining trends.
1. Healthy Dining Options
Something that every college student is aware of is the ever-present pressure to make healthier lifestyle choices. As such, healthy eating is becoming increasingly prominent on college campuses, and more and more students are seeking out options that prioritize health and dietary restrictions. Many colleges are now offering calorie-conscious main entrees, vegetarian and vegan options, and nutritional values for most data.com/en/platform/’ target=’_blank’>menu items. Franchisors should focus on offering healthy dining options to appeal to a wider range of customers.
2. Quick Service Food Brands
Millennials and Gen-Zers are turning to quick-service food brands for convenience, and franchisors need to understand this trend. Fast food franchises can offer college students quick meal options that fit within their busy lifestyles. Quick-service brands should focus on providing customers with a balance of convenience, nutrition, and flavor when creating menu offerings.
3. Take-out Options
With the rise of take-out and delivery services, college campuses are busy ecosystems filled with hungry students in search of convenient meal options. Franchisors should focus on providing options like grab-and-go meals, delivery services, and online ordering capabilities to meet the demand of college students.
4. Out-of-the-box Experiences
In addition to convenience, college students are increasingly drawn to unique dining experiences. With a focus on experiential dining, franchisors can create zany, out-of-the-box experiences that college students will pay top dollar for. Restaurants can curate events like restaurant takeovers or culinary classes for their customers.
5. Snackable Options
With more colleges now offering 24-hour libraries and other after-hours amenities, customers are looking for quick snacks and other small bites to fuel their late-night study sessions. Franchisors should look into providing snackable options like chips, protein bars, and other quick snacks for their customers.
6. Fusion Foods
Fusion foods have become incredibly popular among college students, who are increasingly drawn to the idea of crafting their own unique dishes or adapting recipes. From Latin-American to Japanese-Filipino fusion dishes, franchisors should focus on menu options embedded with creative flavor profiles and cultural influences to tap into this trend.
7. Millennial Influencers
Millennial influencers have a strong influence on the food choices of younger consumer bases, so it is important for franchisors to be aware of influencers and social media trends. Generate buzz for their products by partnering with influencers to market their business and create exciting content for their customers.
8. Plant-Based Foods
Due to health and environmental concerns, more and more college students are turning towards plant-based diets. Franchisors should focus on providing plant-based options like edamame, tofu, and other soy-based products to reach a wider customer base.
9. Location
Location is key when it comes to choosing a spot for a food franchise on college campuses. Sensor data collected by Brizo provides information on local preferences and dining habits, which can inform franchisors as to which areas will prove beneficial for their business. With this in mind, franchisors can choose a location that will draw in maximum foot traffic and create the most impact.
10. Loyalty Programs
Offering high-value loyalty programs is an effective way for franchisors to keep customers coming back for more. By providing customers with coupons and discounts, franchisors can reward loyalty and turn casual customers into returning customers.
When creating a franchise on college campuses, it is important to stay up to date on the latest industry trends and customer preferences. This list of the top 10 things to consider when researching college dining trends can help franchisees adapt to changing consumer behaviors and capitalize on opportunities found in the college market.
