The US foodservice industry has in 2015 recovered the visits it lost during the Great Recession, and will end the year with a total traffic volume at 61 billion, visits up 1% and a consumer spending gain of 3% compared to same time last year, according to The NPD Group.
Among the drivers behind the foodservice growth is the continuing strength of breakfast foods, quick service restaurant (QSR) traffic growth and menu innovation, and all things bacon, BBQ, and steak.
NPD Group restaurant industry analyst, Bonnie Riggs, looked back at several of the winning growth drivers in the foodservice market this past year.
– Breakfast is still the fastest growing foodservice daypart and accelerating.
All day breakfast at McDonalds’ and burgers for breakfast at Burger King both seemed to satisfy consumers’ needs.
– QSRs were the strongest performing segment, representing 79% of all foodservice visits.
The QSR Fast Casual category increased visits by 8%t and retail convenience store foodservice traffic grew by 2%. These two top growing QSR categories are on opposite ends of the price spectrum, but both are meeting consumers’ needs for quality, convenience, and value.
Total growth for the QSR segment was 1%.
– Other drivers include consumers age 50 years and above, meat products, and hot and spicy flavors.
The NPD Group forecasts foodservice total traffic to grow by 1% in 2016.
