Takeout Nation: Why Speed Is the Currency of U.S. Foodservice

Takeout and delivery aren’t just convenient options anymore — they’re the heartbeat of the U.S. foodservice industry. With Americans ordering meals on-the-go more than ever, the speed at which venues can prepare and fulfill these orders has become just as important as flavor, menu variety, or price. For wholesalers, manufacturers, and distributors serving this market, understanding the “need for speed” in takeout culture is essential to staying competitive.

The Rise of Takeout as the Default Dining Option

Takeout has moved from a “Friday night treat” to an everyday occurrence. In 2025, 47% of adults say they pick up takeout once a week and 37% of adults order delivery once a week (National Restaurant Association 2025). For younger demographics, takeout is even more deeply embedded: Gen Z and millennials value the convenience of app-based ordering and expect food to arrive as quickly as their rideshare or online shopping delivery.

This shift means restaurants are re-engineering their kitchens to prioritize throughput and consistency. For suppliers and distributors, the ripple effect is huge: the products they provide must not only meet taste and cost expectations but also help operators execute orders faster.

Why Speed Is Non-Negotiable

Operators aren’t just competing with the restaurant down the street — they’re competing with time. According to Deloitte’s 2023 Restaurant Survey, 40% of customers prefer to order directly from restaurant websites; a practice that’s quick and simple for consumers. U.S. customers now expect takeout orders to be ready within 15 minutes for pickup and 30 minutes for delivery. Anything longer risks losing traffic to faster competitors.

National Restaurant Association suggests 5 must haves for this new takeout norm:

• Speedy service

• Good customer service

• Intuitive tech for ordering and paying

• Value offers

• Loyalty programs 

For restaurants already juggling rising labor costs, supply chain challenges, and inflationary pressure, this obsession with speed adds another layer of strain. The challenge extends upstream: distributors and manufacturers are under growing pressure to provide products that align with these time-sensitive demands, from pre-prepped items to consistent supply availability.

Efficiency as a Shared Responsibility

The push for speed doesn’t end in the kitchen. Every player in the supply chain — from manufacturers producing labour-light products, to distributors ensuring quick and reliable order fulfillment, to wholesalers arming operators with ready-to-use menu solutions — plays a role in ensuring efficiency.

If a case of protein doesn’t arrive, or substitutions slow down ordering, the end-consumer’s experience is compromised. For wholesalers, this reinforces the importance of aligning product offerings and services with the takeout economy’s clock-speed.

Speed as the New Standard in U.S. Foodservice

The U.S. foodservice market is firmly entrenched in an era of speed. Convenience is no longer a differentiator; it’s the baseline expectation. Consumers demand faster prep, seamless pick-up, and consistent fulfillment, and operators rely on their upstream partners to meet those demands.

For distributors, manufacturers, and suppliers, this isn’t just a trend — it’s a market reality. The winners in the value era will be those who treat speed not as a challenge to overcome but as a standard to deliver against, every day.

How FOBOH Helps

At FOBOH, we recognize that speed and efficiency aren’t just restaurant issues—they’re foodservice supply chain challenges. Our AI-powered workforce, including Sal (Sales Copilot), Shaz (Order Management), and Daz (Data Insights), helps distributors and manufacturers:

• Streamline order intake and processing so operators get what they need without delay.

• Proactively suggest substitutions when items are out of stock, ensuring continuity in fast-paced takeout environments.

• Unlock data-driven insights on what operators are buying and how to help them optimize for speed.

By automating the tedious and surfacing the valuable, FOBOH helps wholesalers and suppliers support venues as they navigate the speed-driven world of takeout. In the value era of U.S. foodservice, speed isn’t optional—and neither is innovation.

Ready to see FOBOH’s AI in action?

Get in touch with our team. We’d love to show you what smarter selling really looks like.