Table of Contents
Introduction and Abbreviations
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- Introduction
- Definition
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
Executive Summary
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- Fast casual market shows explosive growth through expansion
- In a novelty-based market, ethnic food is the fastest-growing segment
- Survey respondents recognize superior quality of fast casual despite low penetration
- Most successful chains carry a trendy, upscale brand image
- Minorities and younger consumers are the most frequent users
- Biggest threat comes from encroachment of fast food
- Advertising remains limited
- More Americans trying to eat healthier
- Room for growth ahead
Market Drivers
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- Americans trying to eat and drink healthier
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- Figure 1: Attitudes towards restaurants, by gender, June 2006
- Figure 2: Attitudes towards healthy eating, June 2002-May 2003 vs. May 2004-May 2005
- Rapid unit expansion
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- Figure 3: Number of locations of selected leading restaurant chains, 4th quarter, 2005
- Figure 4: Sales and unit growth of high growth fast casual chains, 2003-05
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- Figure 5: High-growth fast casual chains, by number of units, 2003-05
- Figure 6: Graph: high growth fast casual chains, by number of units, 2003-05
- Low-carb is out, transfat free is in
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- Figure 7: General menu claims at bread-based fast casual chains, by quarter, 2005-06
- Demographics
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- Figure 8: U.S. population, by age, 2000, 2005, and 2010
- Figure 9: U.S. population, by race and Hispanic origin, 2000, 2005 & 2010
- Other contributing factors
Market Size and Trends
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- Market size
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- Figure 10: Total U.S. systemwide sales of leading fast casual chains, at current and constant prices, 2001-06
- Figure 11: Graph: Total U.S. systemwide sales of fast casual chains, at current and constant prices, 2001-06
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- Figure 12: Indexed market size growth, by restaurant type, 2001-05
- Market Trends
- Concept revitalization
- Natural and organic foods
- Transfat and whole grain
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- Figure 13: General menu claims at bread-based fast casual chains, by quarter, 2005-06
Market Segmentation
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- Introduction
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- Figure 14: U.S. systemwide sales of leading fast casual chains, segmented by menu type, 2004 & 2006
- Figure 15: Graph: U.S. systemwide sales of leading fast casual chains, segmented by menu type, 2006
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- Figure 16: U.S. systemwide sales of leading fast casual chains, indexed sales growth, by segment, 2001-06
- Bread-based chains
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- Figure 17: U.S. systemwide sales of leading bread-based fast casual chains, at current and constant prices, 2001-06
- Traditional/HMR chains
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- Figure 18: US. systemwide sales of leading traditional/HMR fast casual chains, at current and constant prices, 2001-06
- Ethnic chains
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- Figure 19: US. systemwide sales of ethnic fast casual chains, at current and constant prices, 2001-06
Supply Structure
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- Introduction
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- Figure 20: U.S. systemwide sales of selected fast casual chains, 2003 & 2005
- Bread-based chains
- Panera Bread Co.
- Einstein Bros. Bagels (New World Restaurant Group)
- Jason’s Deli
- Traditional/HMR chains
- Boston Market
- Steak n Shake
- Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar
- Zaxby’s
- Fazoli’s
- Fuddruckers
- Ethnic chains
- Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Baja Fresh
Advertising and Promotion
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- Introduction
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- Figure 21: Advertising spend by selected fast casual chains, 2005
- Bread-based chains
- Traditional/HMR chains
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- Figure 22: Xtreme Clip: Boston Market television spot, 2006
- Ethnic chains
The Consumer
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- Introduction
- Summary
- Attitudes towards fast casual
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- Figure 23: Attitudes towards fast casual, by age, June 2006
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- Figure 24: Graph: Key attitudes towards fast casual, by age, June 2006
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- Figure 25: Attitudes towards fast casual, by household income, June 2006
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- Figure 26: Graph: Attitudes towards fast casual, by household income, June 2006
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- Figure 27: Attitudes towards fast casual, by household size, June 2006
- Frequency of usage for selected chains
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- Figure 28: Frequency of patronage for selected fast casual chains, by gender, June 2006
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- Figure 29: Frequency of patronage for selected fast casual chains, by age, June 2006
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- Figure 30: Graph: Frequency of patronage for selected fast casual chains, by age, June 2006
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- Figure 31: Frequency of patronage for selected fast casual chains, by household income, June 2006
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- Figure 32: Graph: Frequency of patronage for main fast casual chains, by household income, June 2006
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- Figure 33: Frequency of patronage for selected fast casual chains, by household size, June 2006
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- Figure 34: Frequency of patronage for selected fast casual chains, by geographic region, June 2006
- Method of purchase
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- Figure 35: Frequency of restaurant food purchase, by method of purchase, by gender, June 2006
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- Figure 36: Frequency of restaurant food purchase, by method of purchase, by age, June 2006
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- Figure 37: Frequency of restaurant food purchase, by method of purchase, by household income, June 2006
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- Figure 38: Frequency of restaurant food purchase, by method of purchase, by household size, June 2006
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- Figure 39: Frequency of restaurant food purchase, by method of purchase, by geographic region, June 2006
- Meals eaten outside the home
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- Figure 40: Number of meals eaten outside the home, by meal type, by gender, June 2006
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- Figure 41: Number of meals eaten outside the home, by meal type, by age, June 2006
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- Figure 42: Number of meals eaten outside the home, by meal type, by household income, June 2006
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- Figure 43: Number of meals eaten outside the home, by meal type, by household size, June 2006
- Attitudes towards restaurants in general
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- Figure 44: Attitudes towards restaurants, by gender, June 2006
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- Figure 45: Attitudes towards restaurants, by age, June 2006
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- Figure 46: Attitudes towards restaurants, by household income, June 2006
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- Figure 47: Attitudes towards restaurants, by household size, June 2006
- Popular appeal of menu options
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- Figure 48: Appealing restaurant menu options, by gender, June 2006
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- Figure 49: Appealing restaurant menu options, by age, June 2006
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- Figure 50: Appealing restaurant menu options, by household income, June 2006
- Overview of results by race/ethnicity
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- Figure 51: Attitudes towards fast casual, by race/ethnicity, June 2006
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- Figure 52: Frequency of restaurant food purchase, by method of purchase, by race/ethnicity, June 2006
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- Figure 53: Number of meals eaten outside the home, by meal type, by race/ethnicity, June 2006
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- Figure 54: Attitudes towards restaurants, by race/ethnicity, June 2006
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- Figure 55: Appealing restaurant menu options, by race/ethnicity, June 2006
Future and Forecast
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- Future trends
- Fast casual for kids
- Fast food chains offering increasing competitive menu items
- Curbside pickup and delivery
- Ethnic segment to continue growing, with new national ethnic chains emerging
- Room for growth for independents and chains
- Demographics
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- Figure 56: U.S. population projections, by age, 2005-10
- Figure 57: U.S. population, by race and Hispanic origin, 2005 & 2010
- Market forecast
- Leading fast casual chains
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- Figure 58: Forecast of total U.S. systemwide sales of leading fast casual chains, at current and constant prices, 2006-11
- Figure 59: Forecast of total U.S. systemwide sales of leading fast casual chains, at current and constant prices, 2006-11
- Leading bread-based fast casual chains
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- Figure 60: Forecast of U.S. systemwide sales of leading bread-based fast casual chains, at current and constant prices, 2006-11
- Leading traditional and home meal replacement fast casual chains
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- Figure 61: Forecast of U.S. systemwide sales of leading traditional and home meal replacement fast casual chains, at current and constant prices, 2006-11
- Leading ethnic fast casual chains
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- Figure 62: Forecast of U.S. systemwide sales of leading ethnic fast casual chains, at current and constant prices, 2006-11
- Forecast factors
Appendix: Trade Associations
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