Quick Service Restaurant Industry Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

The Quick-Service Restaurant Market is expected to register a CAGR of 9.21% during the forecast period.

Fast food is gaining importance among consumers globally, with the influx of both global and regional brands, such as KFC, Domino's, Starbucks, and others. According to the National Statistical Directory of Economic Units (INEGI), the number of Quick-service restaurants in Mexico, in 2021 was 67.9 thousand. The market is primarily driven by the increased frequency of dining out, the rising influence of cross-culture dietary preferences, amid time-pressed schedules, and the strong presence of international brands offering multicultural fast-food options. Factors, such as changing demographics of a population, along with the rise of health-conscious millennials and boomers, have given rise to increased demand for food products addressing the health and wellness of the population. Thus, multinational fast-food brands are also expanding their presence in major countries through aggressive marketing and promotional activities along with innovative menus.

The increasing desire of consumers for healthier food and drink along with convenient, grab-and-go options are enabling quick-service restaurants, like Chipotle and Subway to capitalize on the growing opportunity with healthier menu items. Low-carb options, salads, and diet drinks remain the popular choice for consumers. Furthermore, restaurant digitalization and AI are transforming the quick-service restaurant industry as consumers are starting to rely on online ordering, and this trend is expected to increase in the forecasted period.

Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Market Trends

Growing Presence of International Fast-Food Restaurants

The market has encountered rapid expansion of global as well as domestic restaurant chains consistently over the past years. This has impacted the food service market across the world as deeper penetration of restaurant chains has allowed wider options for the consumer while they go out to eat and adds up to the frequency of the number of times, they visit restaurants. The rising demand for food prepared by fast food channels has led the market players to expand their outlets for wider service. Yum! Brands, one of the largest food service providers in the world, with popular brands, such as KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, is embarking on huge expansion plans across the globe, to effectively penetrate its presence in targeted countries. For example, Yum! Brands accounted for 55,361 stores worldwide in 2022, up from a total of 53,424 stores in 2021.

The plant-based meat movement has picked up steam with international quick-service food chains joining on the trend in recent years. For instance, KFC became the first major fast-food chain to add a plant-based chicken product to its menu. In January 2022, KFC added Beyond Fried Chicken nuggets made from plant-based meat to its menu in the United States.

Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market

The market studied is driven by a rise in value-conscious consumers willing to try new restaurants, with a wide range of menu options, including interesting international and local cuisines. Changes in lifestyle with the adoption of Western culture (including dietary habits) coupled with the increasing out-of-home consumption are mainly attributed to the working-class population. Thus, driving the quick-service restaurants market. International brands, such as McDonald's, and Yum! Ltd continues to expand through franchises, partnerships, or joint ventures with local companies and clubs in order to gain a consumer base and increase its market presence. For instance, in Feb 2022, Domino's opened its 1500th outlet in India. This vast network of stores and strategic investment in technology has helped Domino's to reduce delivery time further from 30 minutes to 20 minutes. Similarly, in April 2021, Sydney Swans announced a new multi-year partnership with McDonald's Australia which will continue to be their official quick-service restaurant and coffee partner. The new five-year partnership saw McDonald's continuous support of the Club's digital channels and game day experience. This strategy seems to provide better prospects for success, as less effort is required to build brand value among the consumers in the market.

Moreover, Asian countries are among the top tourist destinations across the globe, with the number of tourists increasing every year. Thus, the demand for high-quality food and services has been propelling the quick-service restaurant market in the region.

Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Industry Overview

The Quick-Service Restaurants market is highly fragmented and competitive owing to the presence of many international, regional, and local players. The key players operating in the market are McDonald's Corporation, Yum! Brands, Inc., Starbucks Corporation, Jubilant FoodWorks, and Jollibee. The key players are giving stiff competition to the market players by adopting various innovative strategies including innovative launches, expansion, partnerships, and others. The market players are launching innovative products or customized dishes as per the customer requirements, which, in turn, are helping the companies to get a bid in the food service market share. For instance, in July 2022, McDonald's Australia launched the McPlant burger in select stores as part of a new trial. The McPlant patty is made with Beyond Meat's plant-based protein. Over the past few years, certain players like KFC, Domino's, Subway, etc., have been expanding their geographical presence across the globe by consistently opening new restaurants as a part of their strategic expansion.

In addition, leading food service providers/brands are focusing on online distribution channels for online marketing and branding of their offerings, in order to expand their geographic reach, as well as customer base.

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