Gen Z calls it ‘slop’—but they’re fast casual’s most loyal (and demanding) customers

Gen Z consumers, born between 1997 and 2012, are having the cultural moment every generation eventually gets: deciding what’s in and what’s fundamentally uncool. The generation has become known for a long list of defining traits that can be hard to keep up with: they drink less, are more open to trade careers, love thrifting and embrace wholesome, analog hobbies. Some commentators have even suggested Gen Z could be the generation that brings down the fast casual sector, the category defined by customizable bowls, build-your-own meals and early pioneers like Chipotle, Sweetgreen, Cava and Panera. To explore whether Americans and Gen Zers in particular have truly fallen out of love with fast casual, SmartSense by Digi surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults about their dining preferences, concerns and behaviors, as well as the roles the economy and food safety play in dining out decisions, especially within the fast casual space. The findings were clear: Gen Z still loves fast casual. The “slop bowl” meme, it turns out, is more term of endearment than indictment. At the same time, Gen Z consumers hold fast casual brands to high standards, particularly around food safety, value and consistency during a difficult economic climate. Fast Casual Proves Resilient in a Tough Economy SmartSense found that 66% of American adults say their dining-out budgets have tightened over the past year. Counterintuitively, Gen Z adults (ages 18–29) are slightly less likely than average to say this (63%), even though they’re more likely than any other generation to report that their financial situation has worsened compared to a year ago (67% versus 59% of U.S. adults overall). The apparent contradiction resolves quickly on closer inspection. Despite widespread economic pressure, fast casual remains more resilient than traditional sit-down dining thanks to Gen Z diners. Nearly three-quarters (71%) of Americans say they are more likely to choose fast casual over sit-down re