Top 10 Trends Reshaping The Restaurant Industry In 2026
The restaurant industry faces 2026 with rising inflation, volatile commodity prices, energy costs, and new tax relief from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Rapid digital transformation boosts efficiency but increases cybersecurity risks, while shifting consumer wellness trends and tighter lending conditions demand agility. Keep reading to explore the Top 10 trends shaping restaurants in 2026.
Kaz Unalan, CPA, CEPA, co-leads the firm's national restaurant practice and serves on GBQ's Executive Committee. He's passionate about people. He enjoys the variety of his work. And he loves fruit, Star Wars, and summer beaches. Keep reading to learn more about Kaz.
Debt covenants are essential for restaurant financing. These lender requirements help ensure your business stays healthy and can repay its debt. Learn how covenants are calculated under GAAP, avoid common pitfalls, and track compliance year-round to prevent costly surprises.
Cybersecurity risk is now a core business issue for restaurants. Leaders who treat it as a financial and operational risk, on par with food safety and labor, will be better positioned to protect revenue, customer trust, and enterprise value. Read on to discover why restaurants are attractive targets.
Audit Harmony: How Assurance Firms & Outsourced CFO/Accounting Teams Are Elevating Hospitality
According to Kari Maue, CPA, Co-Leader of GBQ's Restaurant Services team, the difference between a smooth, efficient audit and a painful one almost always comes down to preparation, collaboration, and clean financial processes. Listen as Kari joins Nick Stauff on The Financial Advantage with GSS podcast to help ease the minds of restaurant leaders.
Join GBQ for an executive webinar where our Business Technology Solutions team will bring clarity to complex technology decisions, allowing you to make informed, confident decisions about AI adoption that drive measurable business value without creating hidden organizational risk. You'll walk away with a clear playbook (not theoretical frameworks) that gives you a starting point and a guide for success.
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