Table of Contents
Scope and Themes
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- What you need to know
- Definition
- Data sources
- Market size and forecast
- Consumer survey data
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
Executive Summary
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- Market size and forecast
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- Figure 1: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of fast casual restaurants, at current prices, 2008-18
- Market drivers and competition
- Insights and opportunities
- Marketing strategies
- Menu analysis
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- Figure 2: Food items by menu section at fast casual restaurants, by incidence, Q2 2010-13
- Figure 3: Top 10 geographical claims for food at fast casual restaurant menus, by incidence, Q2 2010-13
- The consumer
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- Figure 4: Drivers for fast casual restaurants, July 2013
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- Figure 5: Effectiveness of deals at fast casual restaurants, July 2013
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- Figure 6: Important value-added attributes of fast casual restaurants, July 2013
- What we think
Issues and Insights
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- How fast casuals provide value through quality to justify higher prices
- Issues
- Insights
- How fast casuals build brand loyalty among consumers
- Issues
- Insights
- The corporate responsibility initiatives that resonate most with consumers
- Issues
- Insights
Trend Applications
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- Trend: Moral Brands
- Trend: Factory Fear
- Mintel Futures: Human
Market Size and Forecast
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- Key points
- Market size insight
- Sales and forecast of fast casual restaurants
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- Figure 7: Total US sales and forecast of fast casual restaurants, at current prices, 2008-18
- Figure 8: Total US sales and forecast of fast casual restaurants, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2008-18
- Fan chart forecast
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- Figure 9: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of fast casual restaurants, at current prices, 2008-18
Market Drivers
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- Availability of capital
- Economic indicators
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- Figure 10: Changes in behavior at fast casual restaurants, by increased behavior, July 2013
- Rising commodity prices
- Calorie disclosure legislation
- Food allergies
- Gluten-free claims defined by government
- Healthy diet and active lifestyle
- Millennials drive usage
Competitive Context
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- Quick service restaurants
- Full-service restaurants
- Grocery stores
- Food trucks
- Convenience stores
- Fast casual restaurants
Featured Companies
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- Altruistic concepts
- BFY
- Grilled cheese concepts
- American concepts
- Asian concepts
- Other concepts
Innovations and Innovators – Menu Items
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- Upscale items
- Unique protein
- Customization
- Sandwiches
- Beverages
- Alcohol offerings
- LTOs
Innovations and Innovators – BFY
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- Calories
- Gluten free
- Freshness
- Functional
- Local sourcing
- Healthful protein
Innovations and Innovators – Operational
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- Treatment of people
- Mobile technology
- Eco-friendly
- Renovations
- In-store technology
Marketing Strategies
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- Overview of the brand landscape
- Visual media
- Out of home
- Social media
- Sweepstakes and contests
- Retail items
- Entertainment and sponsorships
- Causes and charitable programs
- Local community involvement
Coupons and Loyalty Programs
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- Freebies
- Loyalty programs
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- Figure 11: Drivers for fast casual restaurants, by more deals, July 2013
Menu Analysis – Food Analysis
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- Segment overview
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- Figure 12: Segment breakdown of food menu items, by incidence, Q2 2010-13
- Menu sections
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- Figure 13: Food items by menu section at fast casual restaurants, by incidence, Q2 2010-13
- Geographical claims
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- Figure 14: Top 10 geographical claims for food at fast casual restaurant menus, by incidence, Q2 2010-13
- Marketing claims
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- Figure 15: Top 10 marketing claims for food at fast casual restaurants, by incidence, Q2 2010-13
- Nutritional claims
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- Figure 16: Top 10 nutritional claims for food at fast casual restaurants, by incidence, Q2 2010-13
Menu Analysis – Drink Items
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- Segment overview
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- Figure 17: Segment breakdown of non-alcoholic beverage menu items, by incidence, Q2 2010-13
- Menu items
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- Figure 18: Top 10 beverage item types at fast casual restaurants, by incidence, Q2 2010-13
- Marketing claims
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- Figure 19: Top 10 marketing claims for beverage items at fast casual restaurants, by incidence, Q2 2010-13
- On-premise alcohol overview
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- Figure 20: Segment breakdown of alcoholic beverage menu items, by incidence, Q2 2010-13
- On-premise alcohol items
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- Figure 21: Top 10 alcoholic beverage types at fast casual restaurants, by incidence, Q2 2010-13
Consumer Trends Overview
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- Key points
- The most popular fast casuals are pizza, burger, and Mexican concepts
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- Figure 22: Fast casual restaurant usage and dayparts, July 2013
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- Figure 23: Fast casual restaurant usage and dayparts – Nets, July 2013
- Consumers are cooking more at home and visiting fast casuals less
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- Figure 24: Changes in behavior at fast casual restaurants, July 2013
- People select fast casuals by variety of items, freshness, and convenience
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- Figure 25: Drivers for fast casual restaurants, July 2013
- Consumers are encouraged by BOGOs, printed coupons, and daily specials
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- Figure 26: Effectiveness of deals at fast casual restaurants, July 2013
- Food safety and treatment of employees is of top importance to consumers
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- Figure 27: Important value-added attributes of fast casual restaurants, July 2013
- Consumer behavior at fast casual restaurants
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- Figure 28: Consumer behavior at fast casual restaurants, July 2013
Consumer Trends by Daypart
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- Key points
- Usage behavior and cross-over opportunities between dayparts
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- Figure 29: Fast casual restaurant usage and dayparts, by daypart usage, July 2013
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- Figure 30: Dayparts restaurant usage, by daypart usage, July 2013
- Breakfast users have increased their usage of coupons at fast casuals
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- Figure 31: Changes in behavior at fast casual restaurants—More, by daypart usage, July 2013
- Breakfast users indifferent to combos; late night users seek portion options
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- Figure 32: Drivers for fast casual restaurants, by daypart usage, July 2013
- Breakfast users like online coupons; late night users like mobile coupons
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- Figure 33: Effectiveness of deals at fast casual restaurants, by daypart usage, July 2013
- Dinner users find nutritional claims, charity, and cause marketing important
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- Figure 34: Important value-added attributes of fast casual restaurants, by daypart usage, July 2013
- Dinner users are least likely to use deals, while late night users find frequent visits too expensive
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- Figure 35: Consumer behavior at fast casual restaurants, by daypart usage, July 2013
Consumer Trends by Gender
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- Key points
- Men lead in usage of fast casual restaurants
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- Figure 36: Fast casual restaurant usage and dayparts, by gender, July 2013
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- Figure 37: Dayparts restaurant usage, by gender, July 2013
- Women are eating healthier at fast casuals, but also cooking at home more
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- Figure 38: Increases in behavior at fast casual restaurants, by gender, July 2013
- Women prefer fresh ingredients and healthfulness; men prefer fast service
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- Figure 39: Drivers for fast casual restaurants, by gender, July 2013
- Women are more likely than men to use printed coupons
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- Figure 40: Effectiveness of deals at fast casual restaurants, by gender, July 2013
- Women are more likely than men to find value-added attributes important
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- Figure 41: Important value-added attributes of fast casual restaurants, by gender, July 2013
- Women are influenced by deals, while men visit often due to their routines
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- Figure 42: Consumer behavior at fast casual restaurants, by gender, July 2013
Consumer Trends by Age
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- Key points
- Older Millennials are key users among most concept types and for dinner
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- Figure 43: Fast casual restaurant usage and dayparts, by age, July 2013
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- Figure 44: Dayparts restaurant usage, by age, July 2013
- Millennials have increased fast casual usage and on-the-go snacking
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- Figure 45: Increases in behavior at fast casual restaurants, by age, July 2013
- Young users seek speed and customization; older users value freshness
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- Figure 46: Drivers for fast casual restaurants, by age, July 2013
- Millennials are encouraged by punch cards, LTOs, and group deals
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- Figure 47: Effectiveness of deals at fast casual restaurants, by age, July 2013
- Millennials consider nutritional claims significant while sourcing and green packaging decrease in importance with age
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- Figure 48: Important value-added attributes of fast casual restaurants, by age, July 2013
- Millennials are concerned with corporate responsibility of fast casuals
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- Figure 49: Consumer behavior at fast casual restaurants, by age, July 2013
Consumer Trends by Income
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- Key points
- Likelihood of visiting a bakery café grows with income
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- Figure 50: Fast casual restaurant usage and dayparts, by household income, July 2013
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- Figure 51: Dayparts restaurant usage, by household income, July 2013
- Low-income consumers are cooking at home, middle class is using more coupons, and the affluent are seeking healthy items
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- Figure 52: Increases in behavior at fast casual restaurants, by household income, July 2013
- Poor users value speed and combo meals; middle-class users value variety and customization; the affluent value high-quality, upscale items
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- Figure 53: Drivers for fast casual restaurants, by household income, July 2013
- The affluent prefer group deals and low-income consumers like daily deals
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- Figure 54: Effectiveness of deals at fast casual restaurants, by household income, July 2013
- Low-income consumers more likely to find value-added attributes to be important; middle class places emphasis on nutritional claims
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- Figure 55: Important value-added attributes of fast casual restaurants, by household income, July 2013
- Low-income groups find fast casuals too expensive for regular use, while the affluent seek out favorite brands
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- Figure 56: Consumer behavior at fast casual restaurants, by household income, July 2013
Consumer Trends by Race
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- Key points
- Asians dominate fast casual usage specifically for breakfast and lunch
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- Figure 57: Fast casual restaurant usage and dayparts, by race origin, July 2013
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- Figure 58: Dayparts restaurant usage, by race, July 2013
- Blacks cook at home more; Asians increase loyalty program usage
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- Figure 59: Increases in behavior at fast casual restaurants, by race, July 2013
- Whites seek variety and convenience, while Asians look for healthfulness
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- Figure 60: Drivers for fast casual restaurants, by race, July 2013
- Whites prefer printed coupons, Blacks like mobile ordering, and Asians are encouraged by online coupons, reward points programs, and group deals
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- Figure 61: Effectiveness of deals at fast casual restaurants, by race, July 2013
- Blacks are more focused on community and charity, while Asians find ingredients and environmental initiatives to be important
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- Figure 62: Important value-added attributes of fast casual restaurants, by race, July 2013
- Blacks visit brands with similar values, while Asians budget to afford visits
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- Figure 63: Consumer behavior at fast casual restaurants, by race, July 2013
Consumer Trends by Hispanic Origin
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- Key points
- Hispanics use each concept type and daypart more than non-Hispanics
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- Figure 64: Fast casual restaurant usage and dayparts, by Hispanic origin, July 2013
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- Figure 65: Dayparts restaurant usage, by Hispanic origin, July 2013
- Hispanics purchase more healthy meals and snack items than last year
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- Figure 66: Increases in behavior at fast casual restaurants, by Hispanic origin, July 2013
- Hispanics are more likely driven by combo meals and gourmet ingredients
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- Figure 67: Drivers for fast casual restaurants, by Hispanic origin, July 2013
- Hispanics are enticed by daily special pricing and mobile payment
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- Figure 68: Effectiveness of deals at fast casual restaurants, by Hispanic origin, July 2013
- Hispanics look for brands that support artists, the community, and charity
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- Figure 69: Important value-added attributes of fast casual restaurants, by Hispanic origin, July 2013
- Hispanics budget for routine visits to brands that do good for the world
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- Figure 70: Consumer behavior at fast casual restaurants, by Hispanic origin, July 2013
Consumer Trends by Region
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- Key points
- Northeasterners use bakery cafés and visit for breakfast and late night, while Westerners are more likely to visit Mexican and Asian concepts
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- Figure 71: Fast casual restaurant usage and dayparts, by region, July 2013
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- Figure 72: Dayparts restaurant usage, by region, July 2013
- Northeasterners have increased ordering healthy items
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- Figure 73: Increases in behavior at fast casual restaurants, by region, July 2013
- Midwesterners find customization at fast casuals to be important
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- Figure 74: Drivers for fast casual restaurants, by region, July 2013
- Midwesterners prefer printed coupons and Southerners like BOGO deals
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- Figure 75: Effectiveness of deals at fast casual restaurants, by region, July 2013
- Northeasterners value fair treatment of animals, sourcing, and local artists
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- Figure 76: Important value-added attributes of fast casual restaurants, by region, July 2013
- Northeasterners are less likely to value fast casuals over fast food restaurants, while Westerners are least likely to justify the higher prices
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- Figure 77: Consumer behavior at fast casual restaurants, by region, July 2013
Consumer Trends by Presence of Children
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- Key points
- Consumers living with children visit pizza fast casuals and for snacks
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- Figure 78: Fast casual restaurant usage and dayparts, by presence of children in household, July 2013
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- Figure 79: Dayparts restaurant usage, by presence of children in household, July 2013
- Consumers living with children increased spending and items purchased
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- Figure 80: Increases in behavior at fast casual restaurants, by presence of children in household, July 2013
- Respondents that do not live with children value variety and convenience; respondents that live with children seek customization
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- Figure 81: Drivers for fast casual restaurants, by presence of children in household, July 2013
- Respondents with children prefer online coupons, rewards points programs, mobile coupons, and mobile payment
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- Figure 82: Effectiveness of deals at fast casual restaurants, by presence of children in household, July 2013
- Consumers living with children value artists, charity, and community
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- Figure 83: Important value-added attributes of fast casual restaurants, by presence of children in household, July 2013
- Presence of children increases visitation of brands doing good for the world and the propensity to research corporate responsibility initiatives
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- Figure 84: Consumer behavior at fast casual restaurants, by presence of children in household, July 2013
Appendix – Other Useful Consumer Tables
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- Figure 85: Fast casual restaurant usage and dayparts, by consumers who increased usage, July 2013
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- Figure 86: Dayparts restaurant usage, by consumers who increased usage, July 2013
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- Figure 87: Drivers for fast casual restaurants, by consumers who increased usage, July 2013
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- Figure 88: Effectiveness of deals at fast casual restaurants, by consumers who increased usage, July 2013
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- Figure 89: Important value-added attributes of fast casual restaurants, by consumers who increased usage, July 2013
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- Figure 90: Consumer behavior at fast casual restaurants, by consumers who increased usage, July 2013
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- Figure 91: Fast casual restaurant usage and dayparts, by consumers who increased eating elsewhere, July 2013
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- Figure 92: Dayparts restaurant usage, by consumers who increased eating elsewhere, July 2013
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- Figure 93: Changes in behavior at fast casual restaurants, by consumers who increased eating elsewhere, July 2013
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- Figure 94: Drivers for fast casual restaurants, by consumers who increased eating elsewhere, July 2013
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- Figure 95: Effectiveness of deals at fast casual restaurants, by consumers who increased eating elsewhere, July 2013
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- Figure 96: Important value-added attributes of fast casual restaurants, by consumers who increased eating elsewhere, July 2013
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- Figure 97: Consumer behavior at fast casual restaurants, by consumers who increased eating elsewhere, July 2013
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- Figure 98: Fast casual restaurant usage and dayparts, by consumers who increased deal usage, July 2013
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- Figure 99: Dayparts restaurant usage, by consumers who increased deal usage, July 2013
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- Figure 100: Increases in behavior at fast casual restaurants, by consumers who increased deal usage, July 2013
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- Figure 101: Effectiveness of deals at fast casual restaurants, by consumers who increased deal usage, July 2013
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- Figure 102: Important value-added attributes of fast casual restaurants, by consumers who increased deal usage, July 2013
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- Figure 103: Consumer behavior at fast casual restaurants, by consumers who increased deal usage, July 2013
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Appendix – Market Drivers
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- Consumer confidence
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- Figure 104: University of Michigan’s index of consumer sentiment (ICS), 2007-13
- Unemployment
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- Figure 105: US unemployment rate, by month, 2002-13
- Figure 106: US unemployment and underemployment rates, 2007-13
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- Figure 107: Number of employed civilians in US, in thousands, 2007-13
- Food cost pressures
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- Figure 108: Changes in USDA Food Price Indexes, 2011-14
- Obesity
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- Figure 109: American adults by weight category as determined by BMI (body mass index), 2008-June 20, 2013
- Childhood and teen obesity – highest in decades
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- Figure 110: Prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents aged 2-19, 1971-2010
- Racial, ethnic population growth
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- Figure 111: US population by race and Hispanic origin, 2008, 2013, and 2018
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- Figure 112: Households with children, by race and Hispanic origin of householder, 2012
- Shifting US demographics
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- Figure 113: US population, by age, 2008-18
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- Figure 114: US households, by presence of own children, 2002-12
Appendix – Trade Associations
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