8 trends shaping real estate in the food and beverage industry

The U.S. restaurant industry and the real estate it occupies are being reshaped by fundamental industry shifts including the rapid growth of third-party, meal-delivery services, increasing adoption of in-store automation, and the ongoing proliferation of fast-casual concepts, according to a new report from CBRE.

CBRE’s report highlights eight trends, also including the spread of small-format, “eatertainment” concepts, to examine their impact on the food-and-beverage sector and its real estate. Restaurants now account for 17 percent of U.S. retail sales, more than any other retail sector, and restaurant sales growth has outpaced overall U.S. retail sales gains in recent years.