Consumers are expanding their perceptions of fast food, according to Chicago foodservice research and consulting firm Technomic.
A new Technomic report shows that consumers’ perception of fast food is no longer confined to quick-service, drive-through restaurants and convenience stores. It also encompasses “fast casual,” or quick-service restaurants that place greater emphasis on flavor, quality and ambiance than traditional fast food.
This bodes well for seafood, as more fast-food and fast-casual chains add seafood to their menus to set themselves apart from the competition.
According to the Technomic report, 41 percent of consumers consider fast-food establishments to include fast-casual restaurants and full-service restaurants offering carryout and curbside service.
“As Americans continue to trade down from full-service concepts, more restaurants are competing for the ‘fast food/food fast’ customer,” said Darren Tristano, executive VP at Technomic. “Both quick-service and fast-casual restaurants are borrowing elements from the other to drive traffic. This represents a host of challenges to operators rethinking their brands. Understanding consumers’ changing perceptions of fast food, as well as competitors’ responses, will be central to success.”
The findings, published in “Status and Future of Fast Foods: Consumer Trend Report” on Tuesday, look at how consumers are seeking faster, more convenient service from all types of foodservice establishments, including convenience stores, food trucks and supermarkets offering retail meal solutions.
The report also found that 49 percent of consumers say they eat at fast-food restaurants at least once a week, while 24 percent say they’ve increased their visits to fast-food restaurants in the past year.
