QSR & Fast Casual

McDonalds, Burger King, and other quick service restaurants have long been synonymous with American-style eating. However, a new generation of “fast casual” restaurants have challenged the original fast-food giants, expanding options for expedient eating. Where will the industry go from here?

At The Harris Poll, we use real-world data to explain consumer choices, and to predict future decisions. We will continue to update this page with emerging insights that professionals in the quick service and fast casual industries can rely on.

We will explore key issues that impact your customers, your employees, and ultimately your bottom line. Should menus provide for healthy eating options? Do packaging or restaurant re-designs increase consumer demand? How will green initiatives change standard practices and impact profit margins? What types of sponsorships and marketing campaigns shift consumer purchasing intent?

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Current Trends in QSR

Eating at quick-service restaurants (QSRs) is a popular American experience, but what draws consumers to these chains? This month, we are using data from a recent Harris Poll survey and QuestBrand to examine consumers’ QSR habits. This report provides a glimpse into the world of QSR trends as of August 2024.

The snapshot takes a deep dive into Americans’ QSR eating habits and priorities. We close with an over-index report, listing five casual chains that over-index with US adults from each geographic region – urban, suburban, and rural. This indicates that these chains are more popular with US adults in that region of the country.

Read Our QSR Snapshot

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