Quick service restaurant customers often choose foodservice from grocery stores and convenience stores, according to a new analysis by the NPD Group.
From March to June this year, the number of fast food purchases per customer made at supermarkets and c-stores was over six visits higher than those made at QSRs in an average four-week period.
Foodservice from retail outlets has also incrementally added customers, according to NPD’s QSR Plus Retail Market Monitor.Not surprisingly, supermarkets account for a high percentage of purchases of chicken, side dishes and salads.

“Consumers use QSRs, convenience and grocery stores interchangeably for fast food, particularly when they find the same quality and variety,” Bonnie Riggs, NPD restaurant industry analyst, said in a press release. “The lines between retail foodservice and QSRs are blurring for consumers, and these channels are competing for visits from consumers looking for a quick meal or snack.”