A new report from Y-Pulse explores the emergence of a new segment in the fast casual restaurant sector. Insight from more than 5,000 consumers surveyed in multiple consumer studies as well as the expert opinions of culinary professionals were used to identify the rise of marketplace fast casual, a fresh step forward for the fast casual segment driven by the demands of younger consumers, and shaped by the popularity of farmers markets and food halls.

"Today's younger consumers enjoy the endless choices offered by food halls and the straight-from-the-source freshness they find at farmers markets," says Sharon Olson, executive director of Y-Pulse. "Marketplace fast casual capitalizes on younger consumers' desires by merging all the best features of both into a modern, high-tech environment that turns a meal break into an experience."

Here are five things to know about the features shaping this emerging segment:

Atmosphere is Everything
Venues like farmers markets and food halls appeal to all demographics. But the study reveals that the reasons that younger and older consumers are drawn to such venues tend to vary. For younger consumers, part of the appeal lies in their entertainment value. Sixty-two percent of consumers ages 18-34 say they enjoy going to venues like food halls and farmers markets because they're just as much a social occasion as a shopping trip, compared with 56 percent of consumers ages 35-54 and 43 percent of consumers ages 55 and older. Additionally, 71 percent of consumers ages 18-34 say they love learning about new foods by shopping around such venues, compared to 67 percent of consumers ages 35-54 and 55 percent of those ages 55 and older.

Marketplace fast casual operations cater to these desires. They aim to capture all of the excitement of a market by building an engaging atmosphere, offering consumers as much information about their food as possible and putting fresh ingredients front and center. Sixty-nine percent of consumers ages 18-34 say they love the collaborative energy that farmers markets and food halls offer.

On Full Display
Marketplace fast casual operations understand the importance of putting on a good show. Operators don't just display the assembly of customers' meals, but the preparation too. Seventy-two percent of consumers ages 18-34 say that they like to watch their food being made, and 79 percent say they want to know as much as possible about the food they're eating. An open kitchen adds to the entertaining atmosphere, while also assuring consumers that their meals will be fresh.

Fresh and Customizable
Younger consumers are looking to put less processed foods on their plates, but they don't want to sacrifice the convenient lifestyles they have grown accustomed to. Eighty-nine percent of consumers ages 18-34 say that they would like to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and 76 percent of consumers ages 18-34 say they shouldn't have to try too hard to eat healthy. With their emphasis on fresh produce and natural ingredients, marketplace fast casual restaurants make getting a quick, produce-centric meal that consumers feel good about a painless process.

Customization also makes eating well easy, allowing customers to pick and choose from an abundance of fresh options, whether they're substituting ingredients in a seasonal menu item or building their own bowl from the base up. Eighty-six percent of consumers ages 18-34 say they are likely to purchase menu items that they can customize.

Flexible Ordering
From mobile apps that allow customers to place their orders ahead of time online, to in-store touch screen kiosks that allow them to soak in the abundance of fresh options available to them, marketplace fast casual operators recognize and meet their customers' wide range of needs. Sixty-two percent of consumers ages 18-34 agree that using technology to order food is easier than ordering from an actual person. And for those with customized tastes, ordering from a kiosk or their mobile phone ensures their special requests aren't lost in translation. Fifty-eight percent of consumers ages 18-34 say they like using technology to order because it ensures that their order will be accurate.

Of course, both operators and younger consumers aren't forgetting the value of a friendly face. Seventy-eight percent of consumers ages 18-34 say they enjoy ordering their food from a real person because they enjoy the element of human interaction.

Connection to Vendors
Young consumers know that knowledge is power, so marketplace fast casual operators make sure information about how and where their food is sourced is highly visible and proudly displayed.  Seventy-one percent of consumers ages 18-34 say they trust vendors at farmers markets because they get to see who grew and handled their food.

Furthermore, 68 percent of consumers ages 18-34 say they love talking to vendors at farmers markets who are passionate about the food they sell, a number that outpaces older demographics. Sixty-three percent of consumers ages 35-54 and 50 percent of consumers ages 55 and older state that they love talking to vendors who are passionate about the food they sell. Marketplace fast casual restaurants tout their close ties with vendors in a way that establishes trust and tells a story.

About the Report
Y-Pulse explored the dining expectations, attitudes and tendencies of more than 5,000 consumers through multiple comprehensive consumer studies, including the Mindful Dining ™ Initiative, the Fresh Perspectives Study 2019 and the Food Market Culture Report, which asked consumers their perspectives on food culture and a wide range of markets, from farmers markets to food halls to identify emerging trends and markets in the industry.