GITNUXREPORT 2026

Quick-Service Restaurant Industry Statistics

The QSR industry is growing robustly with increasing digital sales and global expansion.

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

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Statistic 1

McDonald's held 43.2% U.S. QSR market share by sales in 2023.

Statistic 2

Starbucks commanded 36% of QSR coffee sales in U.S. 2023.

Statistic 3

Subway unit count reached 37,000 in U.S., most QSR locations 2023.

Statistic 4

Chick-fil-A average sales per unit topped $9.4 million in 2023.

Statistic 5

Taco Bell expanded to 8,000+ U.S. units, +2.1% YoY 2023.

Statistic 6

Wendy's systemwide sales hit $12.3 billion globally 2023.

Statistic 7

Domino's Pizza digital sales share 85% of total U.S. orders 2023.

Statistic 8

Dunkin' grew U.S. footprint by 250 net new stores in 2023.

Statistic 9

Burger King U.S. sales $11.2 billion, market share 8.7% 2023.

Statistic 10

Chipotle Mexican Grill AUV $2.8 million, highest fast-casual 2023.

Statistic 11

KFC global outlets 27,000, China leading with 10,000+ in 2023.

Statistic 12

Sonic Drive-In sales per unit $2.1 million average 2023 U.S.

Statistic 13

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen grew U.S. sales 12% to $5.6B 2023.

Statistic 14

Panera Bread QSR-like units sales $4.9 billion 2023.

Statistic 15

Arby's roast beef segment leader with $4.7B sales 2023.

Statistic 16

Pizza Hut U.S. market share 14% in pizza QSR 2023.

Statistic 17

Five Guys burger chain expanded 150 international units 2023.

Statistic 18

Shake Shack IPO chains AUV $3.2M in mature units 2023.

Statistic 19

Jersey Mike's subs grew 200+ U.S. stores, sales +15% 2023.

Statistic 20

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers 700 units, sales $2.5B 2023.

Statistic 21

Wingstop wings specialist sales $3.1B, +20% growth 2023.

Statistic 22

Culver's butterburgers 900+ units, AUV $2.9M 2023.

Statistic 23

In-N-Out Burger 390 units, highest loyalty scores 2023 QSR.

Statistic 24

Tim Hortons Canada dominance 3,800 stores, U.S. expansion 2023.

Statistic 25

Jack in the Box 2,200 units, turnaround sales +4% 2023.

Statistic 26

Del Taco merged chain 600 units post-acquisition 2023.

Statistic 27

U.S. QSR sales concentrated in top 10 chains at 62% share 2023.

Statistic 28

Asia QSR competition led by KFC/McD with 25% combined share 2023.

Statistic 29

68% of U.S. consumers visited QSR weekly in 2023, up from 62% in 2022.

Statistic 30

42% of Gen Z prefer QSR for dinner occasions in 2023 surveys.

Statistic 31

Mobile ordering app usage in QSR rose to 51% of orders in 2023 U.S.

Statistic 32

73% of QSR customers value speed of service as top priority in 2023.

Statistic 33

Plant-based menu adoption influenced 29% of millennials' QSR choices in 2023.

Statistic 34

Drive-thru preference stood at 78% among families with kids in 2023.

Statistic 35

55% of consumers seek value meals amid inflation in QSR 2023 polls.

Statistic 36

Health-conscious options chosen by 47% of QSR visitors weekly in 2023.

Statistic 37

Loyalty apps drove 34% repeat visits in QSR per 2023 data.

Statistic 38

61% of Boomers prefer dine-in QSR over delivery in 2023.

Statistic 39

Spicy menu items boosted satisfaction scores by 12% in QSR 2023.

Statistic 40

49% of urban consumers order QSR via third-party delivery weekly 2023.

Statistic 41

Sustainability claims sway 38% of QSR purchase decisions in 2023.

Statistic 42

Breakfast daypart visits up 14% among remote workers in QSR 2023.

Statistic 43

67% prioritize contactless payment in QSR post-pandemic 2023.

Statistic 44

Women represent 52% of QSR lunch crowd in workplace areas 2023.

Statistic 45

44% of consumers try new QSR chains yearly via social media 2023.

Statistic 46

Value perception index for QSR dropped 8% due to price hikes 2023.

Statistic 47

76% of parents use QSR kids' meals 2+ times monthly 2023.

Statistic 48

Late-night QSR visits (after 9pm) comprise 12% of sales 2023.

Statistic 49

59% favor QSR customization options in orders 2023 surveys.

Statistic 50

Electric vehicle charging at QSR influences 22% EV owner visits 2023.

Statistic 51

35% of Hispanics prefer Mexican QSR over others in U.S. 2023.

Statistic 52

QSR app ratings average 4.6/5 stars with 2.1 million reviews 2023.

Statistic 53

48% skip QSR due to long lines, per time-strapped consumers 2023.

Statistic 54

In 2023, the U.S. quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry generated total sales of $404.3 billion, marking a 7.2% increase from 2022.

Statistic 55

Global QSR market size reached $1.05 trillion in 2023, projected to grow to $1.68 trillion by 2030 at a CAGR of 6.8%.

Statistic 56

QSR segment accounted for 37% of total U.S. restaurant industry sales in 2023, up from 35% in 2020.

Statistic 57

U.S. QSR drive-thru sales hit $218 billion in 2023, representing 54% of total QSR sales.

Statistic 58

QSR industry in the U.S. employed 4.1 million people in 2023, with average hourly wage of $15.2.

Statistic 59

Chicken segment in QSR grew sales by 11.3% year-over-year in 2023, reaching $52.4 billion.

Statistic 60

Burger QSR sales in U.S. totaled $127.5 billion in 2023, comprising 31.5% of QSR market.

Statistic 61

QSR digital sales share reached 25.4% of total sales in U.S. in Q4 2023.

Statistic 62

Mexico's QSR market valued at $12.8 billion in 2023, with 8.2% CAGR expected through 2028.

Statistic 63

Asia-Pacific QSR market grew 9.1% in 2023 to $452 billion, driven by urbanization.

Statistic 64

U.S. QSR average unit volume (AUV) for top chains was $2.9 million in 2023.

Statistic 65

QSR franchise ownership accounted for 92% of U.S. units in 2023.

Statistic 66

Delivery sales in QSR surged 18% YoY to $45.6 billion in U.S. 2023.

Statistic 67

QSR coffee segment sales hit $18.7 billion in U.S. 2023, up 5.4%.

Statistic 68

Sandwich QSR category sales reached $38.2 billion in 2023, growing 6.8%.

Statistic 69

U.S. QSR inflation-adjusted sales grew 4.2% in 2023 despite economic pressures.

Statistic 70

Global QSR outlets numbered 2.3 million in 2023, with 45% in Asia.

Statistic 71

Taco QSR sales in U.S. totaled $15.9 billion in 2023, +9.7% YoY.

Statistic 72

Pizza QSR slice grew to $22.1 billion in U.S. sales 2023.

Statistic 73

Breakfast QSR sales accounted for 28% of daily sales in U.S. 2023.

Statistic 74

QSR loyalty program membership reached 65 million active users in U.S. 2023.

Statistic 75

U.S. QSR market penetration stood at 92% of adults visiting monthly in 2023.

Statistic 76

Plant-based QSR menu items sales up 24% to $1.2 billion in 2023 U.S.

Statistic 77

QSR average check size increased 6.1% to $11.45 in U.S. 2023.

Statistic 78

European QSR market valued at $210 billion in 2023, CAGR 5.9% to 2028.

Statistic 79

U.S. QSR same-store sales growth averaged 3.8% in 2023 for top 50 chains.

Statistic 80

Beverage sales in QSR contributed 15.3% of total revenue in U.S. 2023 ($61.8B).

Statistic 81

QSR remodel investments totaled $4.2 billion across U.S. chains in 2023.

Statistic 82

Middle East QSR market hit $28.5 billion in 2023, +10.2% growth.

Statistic 83

U.S. QSR transaction volume reached 28.4 billion in 2023.

Statistic 84

QSR average food cost percentage was 28.4% in 2023 U.S. operations.

Statistic 85

Labor costs consumed 31.2% of QSR revenues in 2023 amid shortages.

Statistic 86

Average QSR drive-thru service time was 227.5 seconds in 2023.

Statistic 87

Inventory turnover ratio for QSR averaged 45 times per year 2023.

Statistic 88

Energy costs rose 11% for QSR units, averaging $2,400 monthly 2023.

Statistic 89

QSR waste reduction initiatives cut food waste by 18% in 2023 pilots.

Statistic 90

POS system uptime averaged 99.2% for top QSR chains 2023.

Statistic 91

Employee turnover rate in QSR hit 112% annually in 2023 U.S.

Statistic 92

Kitchen equipment efficiency improved 9% with AI scheduling 2023.

Statistic 93

QSR average table turn time for limited dine-in was 12.4 minutes 2023.

Statistic 94

Supply chain disruptions affected 23% of QSR deliveries in 2023.

Statistic 95

Automation kiosks reduced labor by 15% in 40% of QSR locations 2023.

Statistic 96

QSR average rent expense was 7.8% of sales in prime locations 2023.

Statistic 97

Food safety incidents dropped 22% due to digital tracking 2023.

Statistic 98

Peak hour staffing efficiency at 92% for optimized QSRs 2023.

Statistic 99

QSR delivery fulfillment time averaged 28 minutes in 2023.

Statistic 100

Utility costs per sq ft in QSR were $3.45 monthly 2023 average.

Statistic 101

Predictive analytics cut stockouts by 34% in QSR inventory 2023.

Statistic 102

QSR training hours per new hire averaged 24 hours in 2023.

Statistic 103

Drive-thru lane utilization peaked at 85% capacity 2023 rushes.

Statistic 104

QSR packaging costs rose 14% to $0.42 per order 2023.

Statistic 105

Voice AI order accuracy reached 96.7% in QSR tests 2023.

Statistic 106

Franchise royalty fees averaged 5.1% of gross sales 2023 QSR.

Statistic 107

QSR unit-level profit margin averaged 15.2% before corp overhead 2023.

Statistic 108

QSR market in California represents 12.4% of U.S. total sales 2023.

Statistic 109

Texas QSR outlets density highest at 1 per 2,100 residents 2023.

Statistic 110

Florida QSR tourism boost added $18B sales in 2023 peak season.

Statistic 111

New York City QSR average sales per unit $3.1M highest urban 2023.

Statistic 112

Midwest U.S. QSR growth 5.2% YoY driven by value focus 2023.

Statistic 113

Southeast U.S. chicken QSR dominance at 28% category share 2023.

Statistic 114

China QSR market largest globally $250B, McD/KFC lead 2023.

Statistic 115

India QSR CAGR 18% to $3.4B by 2025, urban youth drive 2023.

Statistic 116

Brazil QSR sales $15.2B, McD largest with 1,000 units 2023.

Statistic 117

UK QSR market £22B, delivery 30% share post-Brexit 2023.

Statistic 118

Australia QSR per capita spend $450 AUD highest developed 2023.

Statistic 119

Middle East UAE QSR growth 11% to $4.5B expat influence 2023.

Statistic 120

Canada QSR 38% of foodservice, Tim Hortons 20% share 2023.

Statistic 121

Northeast U.S. QSR breakfast sales 32% of daypart 2023.

Statistic 122

Southwest U.S. Mexican QSR 45% market penetration 2023.

Statistic 123

Germany QSR €18B, kebab/doner 25% segment leader 2023.

Statistic 124

Japan QSR konbini integration 15,000 outlets hybrid model 2023.

Statistic 125

South Africa QSR $2.1B, Nando's local leader 35% share 2023.

Statistic 126

Pacific Northwest U.S. sustainable QSR 22% premium pricing 2023.

Statistic 127

France QSR €15B, baguette sandwiches 18% category 2023.

1/127

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Hold onto your napkins, because the quick-service restaurant industry has exploded into a trillion-dollar global phenomenon, reshaping how we eat with record-breaking sales, unprecedented digital adoption, and a relentless drive for speed and convenience.

Key Takeaways

In 2023, the U.S. quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry generated total sales of $404.3 billion, marking a 7.2% increase from 2022.
Global QSR market size reached $1.05 trillion in 2023, projected to grow to $1.68 trillion by 2030 at a CAGR of 6.8%.
QSR segment accounted for 37% of total U.S. restaurant industry sales in 2023, up from 35% in 2020.
68% of U.S. consumers visited QSR weekly in 2023, up from 62% in 2022.
42% of Gen Z prefer QSR for dinner occasions in 2023 surveys.
Mobile ordering app usage in QSR rose to 51% of orders in 2023 U.S.
QSR average food cost percentage was 28.4% in 2023 U.S. operations.
Labor costs consumed 31.2% of QSR revenues in 2023 amid shortages.
Average QSR drive-thru service time was 227.5 seconds in 2023.
McDonald's held 43.2% U.S. QSR market share by sales in 2023.
Starbucks commanded 36% of QSR coffee sales in U.S. 2023.
Subway unit count reached 37,000 in U.S., most QSR locations 2023.
QSR market in California represents 12.4% of U.S. total sales 2023.
Texas QSR outlets density highest at 1 per 2,100 residents 2023.
Florida QSR tourism boost added $18B sales in 2023 peak season.

The QSR industry is growing robustly with increasing digital sales and global expansion.

Chains & Competition

McDonald's held 43.2% U.S. QSR market share by sales in 2023.
Starbucks commanded 36% of QSR coffee sales in U.S. 2023.
Subway unit count reached 37,000 in U.S., most QSR locations 2023.
Chick-fil-A average sales per unit topped $9.4 million in 2023.
Taco Bell expanded to 8,000+ U.S. units, +2.1% YoY 2023.
Wendy's systemwide sales hit $12.3 billion globally 2023.
Domino's Pizza digital sales share 85% of total U.S. orders 2023.
Dunkin' grew U.S. footprint by 250 net new stores in 2023.
Burger King U.S. sales $11.2 billion, market share 8.7% 2023.
Chipotle Mexican Grill AUV $2.8 million, highest fast-casual 2023.
KFC global outlets 27,000, China leading with 10,000+ in 2023.
Sonic Drive-In sales per unit $2.1 million average 2023 U.S.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen grew U.S. sales 12% to $5.6B 2023.
Panera Bread QSR-like units sales $4.9 billion 2023.
Arby's roast beef segment leader with $4.7B sales 2023.
Pizza Hut U.S. market share 14% in pizza QSR 2023.
Five Guys burger chain expanded 150 international units 2023.
Shake Shack IPO chains AUV $3.2M in mature units 2023.
Jersey Mike's subs grew 200+ U.S. stores, sales +15% 2023.
Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers 700 units, sales $2.5B 2023.
Wingstop wings specialist sales $3.1B, +20% growth 2023.
Culver's butterburgers 900+ units, AUV $2.9M 2023.
In-N-Out Burger 390 units, highest loyalty scores 2023 QSR.
Tim Hortons Canada dominance 3,800 stores, U.S. expansion 2023.
Jack in the Box 2,200 units, turnaround sales +4% 2023.
Del Taco merged chain 600 units post-acquisition 2023.
U.S. QSR sales concentrated in top 10 chains at 62% share 2023.
Asia QSR competition led by KFC/McD with 25% combined share 2023.

Chains & Competition Interpretation

Even as McDonald's continues its colossal reign over the U.S. market, the QSR battlefield reveals a landscape of fierce specialization where Starbucks dominates coffee, Chick-fil-A prints money per unit, Domino's masters digital delivery, and chains like Wingstop and Popeyes prove that flying solo on a single, beloved item can fuel explosive growth.

Consumer Trends & Preferences

68% of U.S. consumers visited QSR weekly in 2023, up from 62% in 2022.
42% of Gen Z prefer QSR for dinner occasions in 2023 surveys.
Mobile ordering app usage in QSR rose to 51% of orders in 2023 U.S.
73% of QSR customers value speed of service as top priority in 2023.
Plant-based menu adoption influenced 29% of millennials' QSR choices in 2023.
Drive-thru preference stood at 78% among families with kids in 2023.
55% of consumers seek value meals amid inflation in QSR 2023 polls.
Health-conscious options chosen by 47% of QSR visitors weekly in 2023.
Loyalty apps drove 34% repeat visits in QSR per 2023 data.
61% of Boomers prefer dine-in QSR over delivery in 2023.
Spicy menu items boosted satisfaction scores by 12% in QSR 2023.
49% of urban consumers order QSR via third-party delivery weekly 2023.
Sustainability claims sway 38% of QSR purchase decisions in 2023.
Breakfast daypart visits up 14% among remote workers in QSR 2023.
67% prioritize contactless payment in QSR post-pandemic 2023.
Women represent 52% of QSR lunch crowd in workplace areas 2023.
44% of consumers try new QSR chains yearly via social media 2023.
Value perception index for QSR dropped 8% due to price hikes 2023.
76% of parents use QSR kids' meals 2+ times monthly 2023.
Late-night QSR visits (after 9pm) comprise 12% of sales 2023.
59% favor QSR customization options in orders 2023 surveys.
Electric vehicle charging at QSR influences 22% EV owner visits 2023.
35% of Hispanics prefer Mexican QSR over others in U.S. 2023.
QSR app ratings average 4.6/5 stars with 2.1 million reviews 2023.
48% skip QSR due to long lines, per time-strapped consumers 2023.

Consumer Trends & Preferences Interpretation

In a culinary landscape shaped by relentless demand, a successful QSR must now be a lightning-fast, app-savvy, and value-conscious chameleon, catering simultaneously to Gen Z's dinner plans, a parent's drive-thru sprint, and everyone's divergent cravings for plant-based virtue, spicy thrills, and the eternal hope of a shorter line.

Market Size & Revenue

In 2023, the U.S. quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry generated total sales of $404.3 billion, marking a 7.2% increase from 2022.
Global QSR market size reached $1.05 trillion in 2023, projected to grow to $1.68 trillion by 2030 at a CAGR of 6.8%.
QSR segment accounted for 37% of total U.S. restaurant industry sales in 2023, up from 35% in 2020.
U.S. QSR drive-thru sales hit $218 billion in 2023, representing 54% of total QSR sales.
QSR industry in the U.S. employed 4.1 million people in 2023, with average hourly wage of $15.2.
Chicken segment in QSR grew sales by 11.3% year-over-year in 2023, reaching $52.4 billion.
Burger QSR sales in U.S. totaled $127.5 billion in 2023, comprising 31.5% of QSR market.
QSR digital sales share reached 25.4% of total sales in U.S. in Q4 2023.
Mexico's QSR market valued at $12.8 billion in 2023, with 8.2% CAGR expected through 2028.
Asia-Pacific QSR market grew 9.1% in 2023 to $452 billion, driven by urbanization.
U.S. QSR average unit volume (AUV) for top chains was $2.9 million in 2023.
QSR franchise ownership accounted for 92% of U.S. units in 2023.
Delivery sales in QSR surged 18% YoY to $45.6 billion in U.S. 2023.
QSR coffee segment sales hit $18.7 billion in U.S. 2023, up 5.4%.
Sandwich QSR category sales reached $38.2 billion in 2023, growing 6.8%.
U.S. QSR inflation-adjusted sales grew 4.2% in 2023 despite economic pressures.
Global QSR outlets numbered 2.3 million in 2023, with 45% in Asia.
Taco QSR sales in U.S. totaled $15.9 billion in 2023, +9.7% YoY.
Pizza QSR slice grew to $22.1 billion in U.S. sales 2023.
Breakfast QSR sales accounted for 28% of daily sales in U.S. 2023.
QSR loyalty program membership reached 65 million active users in U.S. 2023.
U.S. QSR market penetration stood at 92% of adults visiting monthly in 2023.
Plant-based QSR menu items sales up 24% to $1.2 billion in 2023 U.S.
QSR average check size increased 6.1% to $11.45 in U.S. 2023.
European QSR market valued at $210 billion in 2023, CAGR 5.9% to 2028.
U.S. QSR same-store sales growth averaged 3.8% in 2023 for top 50 chains.
Beverage sales in QSR contributed 15.3% of total revenue in U.S. 2023 ($61.8B).
QSR remodel investments totaled $4.2 billion across U.S. chains in 2023.
Middle East QSR market hit $28.5 billion in 2023, +10.2% growth.
U.S. QSR transaction volume reached 28.4 billion in 2023.

Market Size & Revenue Interpretation

The stats show we're a planet in a hurry, collectively paying over a trillion dollars for the privilege of eating a chicken sandwich in our cars while tapping an app, as the industry grows everywhere but our waistlines.

Operations & Efficiency

QSR average food cost percentage was 28.4% in 2023 U.S. operations.
Labor costs consumed 31.2% of QSR revenues in 2023 amid shortages.
Average QSR drive-thru service time was 227.5 seconds in 2023.
Inventory turnover ratio for QSR averaged 45 times per year 2023.
Energy costs rose 11% for QSR units, averaging $2,400 monthly 2023.
QSR waste reduction initiatives cut food waste by 18% in 2023 pilots.
POS system uptime averaged 99.2% for top QSR chains 2023.
Employee turnover rate in QSR hit 112% annually in 2023 U.S.
Kitchen equipment efficiency improved 9% with AI scheduling 2023.
QSR average table turn time for limited dine-in was 12.4 minutes 2023.
Supply chain disruptions affected 23% of QSR deliveries in 2023.
Automation kiosks reduced labor by 15% in 40% of QSR locations 2023.
QSR average rent expense was 7.8% of sales in prime locations 2023.
Food safety incidents dropped 22% due to digital tracking 2023.
Peak hour staffing efficiency at 92% for optimized QSRs 2023.
QSR delivery fulfillment time averaged 28 minutes in 2023.
Utility costs per sq ft in QSR were $3.45 monthly 2023 average.
Predictive analytics cut stockouts by 34% in QSR inventory 2023.
QSR training hours per new hire averaged 24 hours in 2023.
Drive-thru lane utilization peaked at 85% capacity 2023 rushes.
QSR packaging costs rose 14% to $0.42 per order 2023.
Voice AI order accuracy reached 96.7% in QSR tests 2023.
Franchise royalty fees averaged 5.1% of gross sales 2023 QSR.
QSR unit-level profit margin averaged 15.2% before corp overhead 2023.

Operations & Efficiency Interpretation

The quick-service restaurant industry is a high-stakes game of financial whack-a-mole, where operators somehow maintain a 15.2% profit margin by frantically juggling 112% staff turnover, AI-driven efficiencies, and supply chain chaos, all while racing to serve you a burger in under four minutes.

Regional & Global Insights

QSR market in California represents 12.4% of U.S. total sales 2023.
Texas QSR outlets density highest at 1 per 2,100 residents 2023.
Florida QSR tourism boost added $18B sales in 2023 peak season.
New York City QSR average sales per unit $3.1M highest urban 2023.
Midwest U.S. QSR growth 5.2% YoY driven by value focus 2023.
Southeast U.S. chicken QSR dominance at 28% category share 2023.
China QSR market largest globally $250B, McD/KFC lead 2023.
India QSR CAGR 18% to $3.4B by 2025, urban youth drive 2023.
Brazil QSR sales $15.2B, McD largest with 1,000 units 2023.
UK QSR market £22B, delivery 30% share post-Brexit 2023.
Australia QSR per capita spend $450 AUD highest developed 2023.
Middle East UAE QSR growth 11% to $4.5B expat influence 2023.
Canada QSR 38% of foodservice, Tim Hortons 20% share 2023.
Northeast U.S. QSR breakfast sales 32% of daypart 2023.
Southwest U.S. Mexican QSR 45% market penetration 2023.
Germany QSR €18B, kebab/doner 25% segment leader 2023.
Japan QSR konbini integration 15,000 outlets hybrid model 2023.
South Africa QSR $2.1B, Nando's local leader 35% share 2023.
Pacific Northwest U.S. sustainable QSR 22% premium pricing 2023.
France QSR €15B, baguette sandwiches 18% category 2023.

Regional & Global Insights Interpretation

While California and New York cash the checks, Texas stocks the density, Florida rides the tourism wave, the Midwest banks on value, and the Southeast flies the coop for chicken, the global QSR battlefield proves that whether it's kebabs in Germany, konbini in Japan, or Tims in Canada, every region has its own fiercely fought, flavor-driven formula for fast food domination.

Sources & References

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