CHICAGO, July 6, 2026 — With the backyard barbecue season officially underway, restaurants and packaging suppliers stand to benefit strongly this summer from the smudging of the line between food retailing and foodservice.
That’s according to a summer business forecast from the National Restaurant Association. Among the 21-page report’s predictions is a strong prevalence of restaurant-prepared items among the store-bought burgers, hot dogs and other picnic-style foods featured at a home cookout. Nearly 4 of 5 consumers (79%) surveyed for the study said they intend to provide a restaurant-prepared dish or beverage to at-home gatherings like cookouts and family reunions.
The most likely items purchased from restaurants are beverages and desserts and sweets, both cited by 64% of the respondents. It was not clear what those beverages might be, since ready-to-drink refreshers like canned or bottled sodas wouldn’t fit the definition of “restaurant prepared.”
About 89% of the surveyed consumers said they intended to attend an at-home meal gathering at some point this summer.
The report verifies in detail that summer remains the key season for food-away-from-home establishments. More than half the respondents (55%) said they intend to take some sort of recreational trip this summer that extends beyond one day. Nearly all the would-be travelers (98%) said they intend to frequent a restaurant during those sojourns, with 93% planning to dine on premise and 90% expecting to opt for takeout or delivery.
In contrast, 76% said they intend to visit a beach, and 65% indicated that they expect to engage in some outdoor recreational activities like golf or whitewater rafting.
“While consumers continue to express some concern over the economy and the increased cost of gas, the majority seem intent on vacationing and continue to prioritize dining out,” the report noted.
However, the travelers are likely to be price-sensitive, the study found.
Asked what factors would be weighed in choosing a restaurant, 90% said affordability. Seventy percent said they’d shop for a place that offers discounts.
Ninety percent cited location as the key criterion, and 79% said they’d give their business to an establishment that features local foods and flavors.
Among the drivers this summer of both on- and off-premise business is the World Cup soccer tournament. Forty-two percent of the respondents said they intend to watch the matches on TV, and 32% indicated they’d be willing to attend a remote watch party.