The first half of 2026 has been a story of resilience, recalibration, and some genuinely surprising shifts. Food and labor costs are still pressing, but something is changing. Guest traffic is bouncing back. Staffing is surging back to the top of the challenge list. And operators are getting smarter and more creative about how they respond to all of it.
R365 Solutions Architect Marc Cohen is joined by industry experts Dana Noorily, Founder and Co-owner of The Granola Bar, and Pike Howard, Owner of Felipe’s Taqueria, to break down exactly what the data is telling us, what it means for the second half of the year, and where the biggest opportunities are hiding right now.
This session is grounded in Restaurant365’s 2026 Midyear State of the Restaurant Industry Survey, drawing on insights from operators representing over 10,000 restaurant locations across the country. That is one of the largest data sets in the history of this program, and the findings reflect it. From multi-year cost trends and AI adoption to consumer behavior shifts, non-alcoholic beverage demand, and the rise of digital engagement, this is the most comprehensive midyear look at the restaurant industry we have ever produced.
If you are an operator, a leader, or anyone who cares about where this industry is headed, this is the session you do not want to miss.
Pike Howard
Restaurant365 brings together accounting, operations, scheduling, and more in a flexible platform—empowering restaurants to choose the solutions they need and scale with confidence.