Originally published on Modern Restaurant Management
Restaurant industry leaders share insights on navigating 2026’s biggest challenges and opportunities. From evolving consumer expectations and labor market pressures to the critical role of technology in managing costs, experts discuss how operators can stay competitive while maintaining profitability in an increasingly complex landscape.
Industry experts including Jay Fiske, President of Powerhouse Dynamics, and Nick Bryant weigh in on the restaurant sector’s path forward in 2026. This two-part series explores how AI-powered technology, smarter data utilization, and strategic operational adjustments will help restaurant operators combat rising costs, overcome labor challenges, and adapt to rapidly shifting consumer demands.
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Looking ahead to 2026, the restaurant industry will increasingly harness the combination of AI and connected data to make decisions that are not only faster, but smarter. Operators have spent years collecting massive amounts of information from their kitchens—energy use, equipment performance, food safety compliance, and menu performance—but historically, much of that data has been underutilized. By layering AI on top of these data streams, brands will be able to identify patterns, predict issues before they occur, and uncover savings opportunities that would otherwise go unnoticed.
– Jay Fiske, President, Powerhouse Dynamics
