WASHINGTON – Restaurant-industry sales could reach a record $537 billion in 2007 – a solid 5.0 percent increase over 2006 sales – according to the National Restaurant Association's 2007 Restaurant Industry Forecast. The nation's 935,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets will employ 12.8 million individuals, and add 2 million new career and employment opportunities in the next decade. Heading into 2007, Americans are spending 47.9 percent of their food budget in restaurants.

“Restaurants touch millions of lives every day by serving quality meals, providing abundant career and employment opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds, and being a driving force in the U.S. economy and local communities nationwide,” Steven C. Anderson, the association’s president and CEO, said in a press release. “The restaurant industry will enter its 16th consecutive year of real growth in 2007, and will have a total economic impact that will exceed $1.3 trillion.”

Menu trends for 2007 include:

• Bite-sized desserts
• Locally grown and organic produce
• Flatbread, whole-grain breads and focaccia
• Bottled water
• Pomegranates
• Figs
• Grass-fed and free-range meat
• Fresh herbs
• Exotic mushrooms
• Salts
• Aged meats
• Ginger

Other food trends include:

• Mediterranean, Latin American and Pan Asian fusion cuisines
• Pan-seared, grilled and braised items
• Specialty sandwiches
• Asian appetizers

Consumer trends for 2007 include diners serving themselves. Forty-six percent of Americans say they are likely to use customer-activated ordering and payment terminals if available in their favorite tableservice restaurant. Younger consumers are more likely to do so, as 71 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds, and 64 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds say they would. About half of all adults – and roughly two-thirds of those age 18 to 34 – say they would use a self-serve order and payment terminal at a quickservice restaurant if it was available.

In addition, 36 percent of adults say they are eating on-the-go less frequently now than they did two years ago. In addition, 48 percent say they eat in their car less frequently.

Quickservice restaurants are projected to register sales of $150.1 billion in 2007, a gain of 5.0 percent over 2006, offering increasingly busy Americans convenience and value, often while incorporating technology solutions that save diners time and money. Quickservice operators will focus on diversifying their menus, promoting "better-for-you" food and beverage choices, enhancements of drive-thru, takeout, delivery and catering options. Gift cards will also present growth opportunities in quickservice.

In comparison to the projected $537 billion in 2007 restaurant sales, NACS reported that convenience store revenues in 2005 hit $495 billion. NACS will release 2006 numbers in April 2007.