Output of the quick service restaurant franchise industry in the U.S. 2007-2020

The output of the quick-service restaurant (QSR) franchise industry was projected to reach over 280 billion U.S. dollars in 2020. Figures increased by 30 billion U.S. dollars between 2016 and 2018, and the industry was forecast to strengthen over the following 12-month period.

Franchised restaurants offer recipe for success

Output is a measurement that is comparable with revenue, referring to the total amount of money brought in from sales, before costs and expenses have been deducted. One of the reasons for the increase in output is the growing number of QSR franchise establishments in the United States, rising from 187,368 in 2016 to an estimated 196,794 in 2019. More restaurants mean more employees: the sector has seen a rise in employment, with positions filled by part-time, full-time, or self-employed individuals increasing year-on-year since 2010.

Burger and pizza categories the most popular among consumers

In terms of systemwide sales, McDonald’s is the leading QSR chain in the United States – the burger company generated around 38.5 billion U.S. dollars from restaurant sales in 2018. The QSR burger category is the largest within the industry, with the sales generated by McDonald’s a contributing factor. Pizza is the second-largest category, with consumer spending increasing to 37.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2019 – carryout orders accounted for around 18.8 billion U.S. dollars of that figure.