Driving 

the Need 

To Go

Linerless 

How operators can help reduce waste, improve accuracy, and stay innovative

Businessman Harry Gordon Selfridge coined the phrase “The customer is always right” in 1909. Over a century later, this sentiment rings especially true in the hospitality industry, where success starts and ends with customer loyalty.

62% 

That said, customers want solutions and services that help make their mundane but necessary tasks — like ordering food or checking into a hotel — quicker, more convenient, and more accurate. Small changes like adding liner-free labels can have a big impact.    

of restaurant drive-thru customers

are willing to try various technologies or have no strong technology preference, as long as their orders are accurate.

scroll for more


1

Trend No. 1



Stronger Adhesives

The adoption of self-service technologies within hospitality is at an all-time high, but there is still plenty of room for growth. This is especially evident post-pandemic, as online orders, curbside pickup, delivery, and fulfillment methods rapidly evolved to meet ever-changing social distancing requirements.


Packaging also became a focal point for consumers and operators, resulting in two major themes:


Consumers still voiced the need for more sustainable or eco-friendly packaging, resulting in innovative packaging surfaces like corrugated cardboard and wax papers.


Food theft of delivery and pickup orders resulted in the need for more tamper-evident “safety seals.

SAFETY...

SUSTAINABILITY...

While sustainability and safety changes to packaging are essential, stronger adhesives are also crucial to ensure labels stick and provide necessary information. Each label that stays put provides better order accuracy and more repeat customers.


 

of consumers cite order accuracy as the most important factor that would inspire a repeat visit to the drive-thru.


58% 


4

The TM-L100 Liner-Free Compatible Thermal Label Printer supports a range of media — including thick and highly adhesive media — to create a variety of permanent and semi-permanent labels that can result in:


Increased order accuracy and food safety

Reduced food waste and food costs

Reduced time and mistakes associated with handwriting labels

Analysts foresee a bright future for the linerless label market, driven by eco-friendly trends, advanced adhesive tech, and increasing demand for customizable, durable labeling solutions. 


 

 Ismail Sutaria

Principal Consultant

Future Market Insights


5

Trend No. 2



Better Connectivity



In the hospitality industry, technology is switching up order entry models to deliver quicker, more convenient service:


 

Traditional POS Systems: 

Reliable and efficient, these are the backbone of many businesses.


With the rise in different ways to pay, operators are prioritizing technologies that can work with what they already have – fast.

85% of restaurant operators report integration with other systems as a top functionality driving their 2024 POS purchases

6

83% are aiming to incorporate tablet-based POS software, which can allow wait staff to take orders and process payments right at the table

6

Close to a third (30%) are looking for kiosk features & functionalities in their POS purchases

6

Order entry methods today could change tomorrow and operators need flexible solutions with rock-solid connectivity.

That’s why the TM-L100 can be easily integrated into existing POS systems, thanks to embedded ePOS capacities. The printer also has Bluetooth, WiFi, USB, Serial, and Ethernet connectivity capabilities, and device charging models (to charge peripheral devices such as a tablet), so operators can future-proof their businesses whether they are ready for it today, or need it tomorrow.


What Are Operators Focused On?


Using technology


76%

Productivity & efficiency


50%

Customer experience

48%

In fact, 76% of operators say using technology in a restaurant provides a competitive advantage, with 50% of operators devoting resources to making the dining area more productive and efficient in 2023, and 48% invested in enhancing the customer experience.

7

Trend No. 3



Less Waste

Consumers have made it clear that they are willing to pay for more sustainable options: 80% of consumers are very or somewhat concerned about the environmental impact of the products they buy, up from 68% in 2023 and 66% in 2022.

The Linerless 
Label Market


8

In hospitality, order accuracy impacts how much potential food waste is produced.


$3.0B

67%

7%

$1.9B

26%

For one quick-service restaurant, Market Force Information calculated the real cost of inaccuracy to exceed $26 million annually. 


2023

2033

The linerless label market was predicted to be valued at $1.9B in 2023 and $3.0B by 2033.5 


9

Replacing inaccurate orders: 7% (or $1.8M)



Over the projection period, the linerless label market is expected to surge at a CAGR of 4.9%.5


Inaccurate deliveries via GrubHub, Uber Eats, DoorDash: 26% (or $6.7M)



 

Long-term customer value: 67% (or $17.4M)

By incorporating linerless labels, operators can spur waste-reduction wins in other ways



Linered to linerless


Reduced food waste


Use of even less paper 


With a growing emphasis on sustainability, there is a burgeoning opportunity for linerless labels that are eco-friendly and contribute to a circular economy. Labels made from recycled or biodegradable materials and those that support recycling initiatives are gaining traction.

5

Future Market Insights



Making the Case 

for Liner-Free Labels

Back in 2012, Starbucks was known for handwritten orders on cups as a way “to form a connection between baristas and customers.”

In 2016, printed labels were introduced to track inventory and standardize pricing. Today, the label also helps improve production, consolidation, and customer handoff, while maintaining a stay on brand — playing a large role in customer satisfaction. 

Liner-Free Benefits

Optimize order flow

Better accuracy and tamper evident/safety seals


Making Liner-Free Labels Part of the Workflow

More labels on each roll may mean fewer rolls need to be purchased


In 2015, restaurant owners Bill and Patti Roland created Katalyst, an updated point-of-sale system that transformed their business – which included finding a reliable POS printer partner.


 

Less downtime to change rolls

Katalyst works mainly with the Epson mSeries and mPOS-friendly thermal printers, as well as the Epson TM-U220 impact receipt and kitchen printers. 



Finally, when Katalyst introduced its catering module, having a full suite of Epson printers available that offer printing for different size invoice slips or sticky labels, has opened up a lot of opportunities.


The Industry Impact

Many business types can benefit from going linerless including (but not limited to):

“We work with a lot of coffee shops and bagel shops, and the liner-free labels are an integral part of their workflow, which has opened up opportunities for us in that space," said Co-Founder Cole Dillon. "Similarly, catering is a bit of an untapped market. Our catering customers are looking for a specific type of printer slip and invoice, so being able to offer them the full breadth of Epson’s solutions has been great as we move forward into different markets.”


Quick-Service-Restaurants

Click-and-collect

Weight scale

E-commerce

Manufacturing

Logistics

Over our many years of working with Epson, we’ve had very few printers that have stopped working; and very few tech support calls. We rely on Epson’s quality – every time I get a product, it’s built well and works exactly how I expect.


Anthony Rosato

Customer Success Specialist

 Katalyst


Enable Your Labels to Do 


 

More


 

with


 

Less


 

Exceptional performance, advanced connectivity, and online ordering ready, Epson label printers are as versatile as they are capable.


 

Epson makes it easy to print personalized labels on demand, in-store, and even from online orders. Its liner, liner-free, and wearable label solutions are engineered for use in a wide variety of environments, including multiple uses in hospitality, retail, and more. Epson OmniLink TM-L100 Liner-Free Compatible Thermal Label Printer advanced features include:


 

Extensive liner-free media support 

Flexible 

connectivity

Reliability you can count on

Online ordering 

ready

Advanced paper-saving features

Label-taken 

sensor

Dynamic

printing

Smart 

connectivity

USB network tethering

POS peripheral support

To request more info,


visit us online


Sources: 

1. HT, “2023 Customer Engagement Technology Study”

2. Circuit Route Planner, "Do You Know Your Courier," April 20, 2022

3. Progressive Grocer, "75th Consumer Expenditures Study: Taking the Pulse of 
    Shopper Attitudes"

4. HT, “The 2022 QSR® magazine Drive-Thru Study” 

5. Future Market Insights, “Global Linerless Label Market to reach US$ 3 billion 
    by 2033, expanding at a 4.9% CAGR”



6. HT, “2024 POS Software Trends Study”

7. National Restaurant Association, “2024 State of the Restaurant Industry Report”

8. PDI Technologies, “Interest in Sustainable Products Remains Top of Mind for 
    US Consumers”
9. Market Force Information, “The Real Cost of Inaccuracy for Quick Serve Restaurants”

Back to top


Powered by Ceros

TREND 1: STRONGER ADHESIVES

TREND 2: BETTER CONNECTIVITY

TREND 3: LESS WASTE

Extensive liner-free

Flexible connectivity 

Online ordering ready

Label-taken sensor

Dynamic printing

Smart connectivity

USB Network Tethering

POS peripheral support

Reliability you can count on 

Advanced paper-saving

A survey by Circuit Route Planner reveals that 80% of food delivery drivers have admitted to tampering with deliveries by eating the food.2