News

QSRs drive Q2 global traffic growth, US restaurant traffic slumps

September 19, 2017

QSRs are winning big globally, according to NPD Group, which found that most of the world's Q2 traffic increases came from the QSR segment.

Consumers responded positively to the advantageous pricing, aggressive unit expansion and advertising of QSR chains and outlets, NPD said in a company press release. The growing interest in foodservice delivery services, mobile ordering and payment around the world was also a driver of foodservice growth in the quarter. In every market NPD tracks, virtually all the growth in the past couple of years has come from mobile or internet services.

US growth lags rate globally

Overall, the NPD analysis of traffic shows that the U.S. was the only exception to a general upward trend in restaurant visit growth worldwide for the quarter ending in June.  European markets continued their solid recovery, while the previously recession-mired countries of  Brazil and Russia regained more solid footing, the release said. Korea also posted a very solid traffic gain. 

Total visits to U.S. restaurants and foodservice outlets declined by 1 percent, however, equaling a loss of 94.5 million visits in the quarter compared to one year ago, according to NPD Group's Crest, which tracks consumer use of foodservice outlets in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia, Spain and the U.S.  

"It has been awhile since we've seen such broad-based traffic growth across the globe, which makes future quarters look promising," NPD Group Global Foodservice Senior Vice President Bob O'Brien, said in the release.  "Although most of the visit growth is from quick service —  meaning smaller average check sizes —   it's a sign that consumers are gaining financial confidence and taking advantage of the convenience foodservice offers."

The part dayparts play 
Visits at the morning meal are growing broadly, but it is still a relatively small daypart in terms of traffic share in most global markets and can't drive overall growth like other meals can. Lunch traffic did increase in Brazil, China, Russia and Spain but declined in all other countries. Visits at dinner were flat to up in most countries, with the exception of Australia, Canada and the U.S., which reported declines.