- Circana
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
Some of the holiday leftovers and cookies may still be in the fridge and on the counter, but seasonal soirées continue through December 31. As people get ready to officially welcome 2026, many are again heading out of the house to pick up items for at-home gatherings or to dine out at a restaurant.
Indeed, both kinds of festivities are popular among consumers who are planning to ring in the new year. Celebrations vary, of course, but there are some trends across the retail and foodservice sectors.
Here’s the ball drop on what’s in shopping carts and restaurant menus as the countdown to the back half of the decade begins:
Circana’s research shows that casual dining and fine dining restaurants, in particular, are New Year’s Eve hotspots. Casual eateries get about 20% more than their usual share that day, while fine dining establishments get about 70% more traffic than normal, underscoring patrons’ interest in dressing up and going out on the town to usher in another calendar year.
A perennially popular food, pizza also gets a boost on NYE, for pickup, delivery, and in-person enjoyment. Pizza is about 20% more popular on that day, Circana’s data reveals.
Although adult beverage consumption has been trending downward in recent years, such drinks are still a big part of the restaurant experience on this celebratory occasion. Alcohol orders are up 30% on NYE compared to other days.
Consumers are also reaching for adult beverages when shopping at stores ahead of NYE. Last year, dollar sales of sparkling wine and champagne topped off at $301,534,871 for the week ending Jan. 5, 2025. For that same week, total beer sales hit $3,327,417,499 and spirits sales spiked to $1,154,483,827.
Of course, not long after the last refrain of “Auld Lang Syne,” the clock resets on choices for food and beverage consumption at home and away from home. Circana’s recent report on The Global Health and Wellness Market affirms that 70% of U.S. consumers make self-care a priority, ranking improved physical health their top goal, followed by reduced stress and anxiety and weight management.
