Grubhub's 2024 year-end report reveals fascinating insights into America's evolving culinary landscape. Analyzing orders across restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience stores, the report highlights the impact of social media and pop culture on food choices.

Protein Powerhouse: Chicken Takes the Lead

Chicken reigned supreme in 2024, featuring in nearly 40% of Grubhub restaurant orders. Poultry outpaced beef by a factor of three in grocery orders. The trend extended to Chipotle, where 15% of orders included double protein, further emphasizing the demand for protein-packed meals. Chipotle burrito bowls also saw a 27% surge in corporate lunch orders.

Chicken's popularity soared in 2024, surpassing beef by a significant margin in Grubhub orders. (iStock)

Cottage Cheese Craze: A Social Media Spark

Grubhub delivered over a ton of cottage cheese in 2024, with demand peaking between July and October. This surge coincided with a social media trend of baking cottage cheese, capturing the attention of consumers, particularly in major cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Cottage cheese experienced a renaissance in 2024, thanks to a viral baking trend. (iStock)

Espresso Excitement: Music Fuels Demand

Espresso orders saw a significant spike coinciding with the popularity of Sabrina Carpenter's hit song "Espresso." Miami led the espresso craze, followed by other major cities. Corporate coffee orders also increased by 53%, while college campuses like Pace University and West Chester University fueled the caffeine fix for students.

The popularity of espresso surged in 2024, possibly influenced by a hit song of the same name. (iStock)

College campuses saw a significant increase in coffee orders through Grubhub in 2024. (iStock)

Convenience Store Cravings: Dr. Pepper's Pickle Surprise

Hot dogs, bananas, and sodas topped convenience store orders, with Dr. Pepper emerging as the favored soft drink. Its popularity was further boosted by a viral trend of adding pickles to the beverage.

Dr. Pepper was the most popular soft drink ordered from convenience stores via Grubhub in 2024. (iStock)

Swicy Sensation: Sweet and Spicy Takes Over

Hot honey sales soared by 30% in grocery stores, reflecting the growing trend of sweet and spicy flavor combinations. Nearly 10% of restaurant menus now feature swicy dishes, showcasing its widespread appeal.

The 'swicy' trend, a combination of sweet and spicy flavors, captivated Grubhub customers in 2024. (iStock)

Hotel Habits: Dining In and Drinks Delivered

Hotel room dining was prevalent in 2024, with 60% of hotel deliveries occurring during dinner. Alcohol orders to hotels also rose, with Virginia Beach leading the trend.

In-room alcohol delivery became a popular choice for hotel guests using Grubhub in 2024. (iStock)