Output of the quick service restaurant franchise industry in the U.S. 2007-2018

The output of the quick-service restaurant (QSR) franchise industry was projected to exceed 250 billion U.S. dollars in 2018. Figures increased by around 53 billion U.S. dollars between 2013 and 2017, 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 178,133 in 2013 to an estimated 194,723 in 2018. 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 36.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2018 – carryout orders accounted for around 17 billion U.S. dollars of that figure.