GITNUXREPORT 2025

Supply Chain In The Qsr Industry Statistics

QSR supply chains face disruption, embrace AI, automation, and sustainability efforts.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry accounts for approximately 60% of the total fast-food market globally.

Statistic 2

45% of QSR operators plan to invest in supply chain technology in the next year.

Statistic 3

The global supply chain management market for QSR is projected to reach $15 billion by 2025.

Statistic 4

58% of QSRs have increased their investment in supply chain cybersecurity measures.

Statistic 5

30% of QSR chains experiment with local sourcing to reduce supply chain risks.

Statistic 6

60% of QSR brands have reduced product varieties to streamline supply chain operations.

Statistic 7

25% of QSR providers have considered nearshoring to mitigate international supply issues.

Statistic 8

50% of QSRs have increased inventory buffers to manage supply chain uncertainties.

Statistic 9

64% of QSRs report that supply chain consolidation has increased their negotiating power with suppliers.

Statistic 10

80% of QSRs have adopted or plan to adopt cold chain logistics for perishable ingredients.

Statistic 11

49% of QSR restaurants used local suppliers to reduce lead times during peak supply chain stress periods.

Statistic 12

43% of QSR supply chains incorporate IoT devices for real-time inventory management.

Statistic 13

44% of supply chain issues in the QSR industry are linked to transportation delays.

Statistic 14

49% of QSRs have implemented vendor scorecards to monitor supply chain performance.

Statistic 15

46% of QSRs are using automated inventory replenishment systems.

Statistic 16

Around 70% of QSRs experience supply chain disruptions due to ingredient shortages.

Statistic 17

65% of QSR chains reported increased supply chain costs in 2022.

Statistic 18

55% of QSRs experienced increased freight costs in 2023.

Statistic 19

Supply chain delays caused an average of 12% revenue loss for QSRs in 2022.

Statistic 20

Over 65% of supply chain disruptions in QSRs in 2022 were caused by COVID-19-related challenges.

Statistic 21

58% of supply chain managers in the QSR industry report difficulty in forecasting demand accurately.

Statistic 22

48% of QSR companies developed contingency plans for supply chain disruptions in 2023.

Statistic 23

33% of QSR chains are experimenting with plant-based ingredients due to supply chain stability of alternative sources.

Statistic 24

45% of QSRs face challenges in sourcing organic and local ingredients due to supply chain issues.

Statistic 25

35% of QSR chains cite supplier reliability as the most critical factor in supply chain management.

Statistic 26

67% of the supply chain disruptions in QSR industry in 2022 led to menu item shortages.

Statistic 27

54% of QSR supply chains reported increased traceability requirements following recent food safety regulations.

Statistic 28

76% of QSR brands see supply chain flexibility as essential for catching shifting consumer preferences.

Statistic 29

62% of QSR companies prioritize supply chain resilience over cost savings.

Statistic 30

72% of QSRs believe supply chain sustainability is a key driver for their future strategies.

Statistic 31

85% of QSR chains are exploring eco-friendly packaging options in their supply chains.

Statistic 32

55% of QSR operators see sustainable sourcing as a competitive advantage.

Statistic 33

68% of QSR brands plan to increase the use of sustainable packaging materials in their supply chains.

Statistic 34

60% of QSRs are exploring eco-friendly logistics practices to reduce carbon footprint.

Statistic 35

39% of restaurants adopted environmentally sustainable sourcing practices in 2023.

Statistic 36

80% of QSR brands are integrating AI and automation tools into their supply chains to improve efficiency.

Statistic 37

40% of QSR companies are adopting blockchain technology for supply chain transparency.

Statistic 38

The use of predictive analytics in QSR supply chains increased by 50% in 2023.

Statistic 39

15% of QSRs have adopted drone delivery to streamline last-mile logistics.

Statistic 40

70% of QSR supply chain professionals believe automation will significantly reduce operational costs.

Statistic 41

77% of QSR chains have implemented or plan to implement RFID technology to track supplies.

Statistic 42

72% of supply chain managers in AI-enabled QSRs believe AI has improved forecasting accuracy.

Statistic 43

58% of key supply chain decisions in QSR are made using data analytics.

Statistic 44

32% of QSR companies are adopting cloud-based supply chain management systems.

Statistic 45

28% of QSRs are experimenting with 3D printing for spare parts and packaging.

Statistic 46

60% of QSR brands report that digital solutions have improved supply chain transparency.

Statistic 47

50% of supply chain managers in QSR industry believe blockchain will significantly enhance traceability.

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Key Highlights

The quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry accounts for approximately 60% of the total fast-food market globally.
Around 70% of QSRs experience supply chain disruptions due to ingredient shortages.
65% of QSR chains reported increased supply chain costs in 2022.
45% of QSR operators plan to invest in supply chain technology in the next year.
80% of QSR brands are integrating AI and automation tools into their supply chains to improve efficiency.
The global supply chain management market for QSR is projected to reach $15 billion by 2025.
55% of QSRs experienced increased freight costs in 2023.
30% of QSR chains experiment with local sourcing to reduce supply chain risks.
Supply chain delays caused an average of 12% revenue loss for QSRs in 2022.
60% of QSR brands have reduced product varieties to streamline supply chain operations.
40% of QSR companies are adopting blockchain technology for supply chain transparency.
The use of predictive analytics in QSR supply chains increased by 50% in 2023.
72% of QSRs believe supply chain sustainability is a key driver for their future strategies.

In a rapidly evolving landscape where nearly 70% of quick-service restaurants are facing ingredient shortages and embracing cutting-edge technologies like AI and blockchain, the supply chain in the QSR industry is undergoing a transformative shift driven by innovation, sustainability, and resilience.

Investment and Strategic Planning

The quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry accounts for approximately 60% of the total fast-food market globally.
45% of QSR operators plan to invest in supply chain technology in the next year.
The global supply chain management market for QSR is projected to reach $15 billion by 2025.
58% of QSRs have increased their investment in supply chain cybersecurity measures.

Investment and Strategic Planning Interpretation

With nearly two-thirds of fast-food profits on the line and almost half of QSRs ramping up their supply chain tech investments, it's clear that the industry is increasingly betting on smarter, more secure logistics to serve up swift success in a competitive market.

Logistics, Sourcing, and Inventory Management

30% of QSR chains experiment with local sourcing to reduce supply chain risks.
60% of QSR brands have reduced product varieties to streamline supply chain operations.
25% of QSR providers have considered nearshoring to mitigate international supply issues.
50% of QSRs have increased inventory buffers to manage supply chain uncertainties.
64% of QSRs report that supply chain consolidation has increased their negotiating power with suppliers.
80% of QSRs have adopted or plan to adopt cold chain logistics for perishable ingredients.
49% of QSR restaurants used local suppliers to reduce lead times during peak supply chain stress periods.
43% of QSR supply chains incorporate IoT devices for real-time inventory management.
44% of supply chain issues in the QSR industry are linked to transportation delays.
49% of QSRs have implemented vendor scorecards to monitor supply chain performance.
46% of QSRs are using automated inventory replenishment systems.

Logistics, Sourcing, and Inventory Management Interpretation

In the race to keep burgers hot and fries fresh, QSR chains are juggling local sourcing, product simplification, and high-tech tracking—proving that even in fast-food, supply chain resilience is now the secret sauce.

Supply Chain Challenges and Disruptions

Around 70% of QSRs experience supply chain disruptions due to ingredient shortages.
65% of QSR chains reported increased supply chain costs in 2022.
55% of QSRs experienced increased freight costs in 2023.
Supply chain delays caused an average of 12% revenue loss for QSRs in 2022.
Over 65% of supply chain disruptions in QSRs in 2022 were caused by COVID-19-related challenges.
58% of supply chain managers in the QSR industry report difficulty in forecasting demand accurately.
48% of QSR companies developed contingency plans for supply chain disruptions in 2023.
33% of QSR chains are experimenting with plant-based ingredients due to supply chain stability of alternative sources.
45% of QSRs face challenges in sourcing organic and local ingredients due to supply chain issues.
35% of QSR chains cite supplier reliability as the most critical factor in supply chain management.
67% of the supply chain disruptions in QSR industry in 2022 led to menu item shortages.
54% of QSR supply chains reported increased traceability requirements following recent food safety regulations.
76% of QSR brands see supply chain flexibility as essential for catching shifting consumer preferences.
62% of QSR companies prioritize supply chain resilience over cost savings.

Supply Chain Challenges and Disruptions Interpretation

In an industry where supply chain disruptions cost nearly 12% of revenue and prompt nearly half to reimagine their menus, QSRs are learning that flexibility and resilience are the real secret ingredients in serving up success.

Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Initiatives

72% of QSRs believe supply chain sustainability is a key driver for their future strategies.
85% of QSR chains are exploring eco-friendly packaging options in their supply chains.
55% of QSR operators see sustainable sourcing as a competitive advantage.
68% of QSR brands plan to increase the use of sustainable packaging materials in their supply chains.
60% of QSRs are exploring eco-friendly logistics practices to reduce carbon footprint.
39% of restaurants adopted environmentally sustainable sourcing practices in 2023.

Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Initiatives Interpretation

With nearly three-quarters of QSRs recognizing supply chain sustainability as pivotal, it's clear that in the fast-food industry, going green isn't just a trend—it's the main course for future success.

Technological Innovations and Digital Transformation

80% of QSR brands are integrating AI and automation tools into their supply chains to improve efficiency.
40% of QSR companies are adopting blockchain technology for supply chain transparency.
The use of predictive analytics in QSR supply chains increased by 50% in 2023.
15% of QSRs have adopted drone delivery to streamline last-mile logistics.
70% of QSR supply chain professionals believe automation will significantly reduce operational costs.
77% of QSR chains have implemented or plan to implement RFID technology to track supplies.
72% of supply chain managers in AI-enabled QSRs believe AI has improved forecasting accuracy.
58% of key supply chain decisions in QSR are made using data analytics.
32% of QSR companies are adopting cloud-based supply chain management systems.
28% of QSRs are experimenting with 3D printing for spare parts and packaging.
60% of QSR brands report that digital solutions have improved supply chain transparency.
50% of supply chain managers in QSR industry believe blockchain will significantly enhance traceability.

Technological Innovations and Digital Transformation Interpretation

As QSRs race to digitize with AI, blockchain, and drone tech, they're not just hoping to serve faster food—they're aiming to serve a smarter, more transparent supply chain, proving that in fast food, speed might be important, but data-driven transparency is the real secret sauce.