QSR chains position value as primary driver of traffic growth

Deal-led visits and bundles drive QSR traffic as consumers trade down channels.

Value-led promotions and bundled offers account for four in 10 visits, shaping quick-service restaurant traffic patterns as consumers trade down from higher-priced foodservice channels amidst continued cost shocks, placing pressure on household spending.

Average eater cheques have surged to $29.19 per person, and have coincided with a sustained decline in traffic, reflecting growing price sensitivity. With elevated living costs squeezing discretionary spend, consumers are increasingly reserving visits to full-service restaurants (FSR) for special occasions rather than everyday dining.

According to the report, most consumers are seen trading experience for efficiency and indulgence for certainty, prioritising speed, reliability, and predictable spend, a shift that plays directly to QSR’s strengths.

Bundles are playing a key role in maintaining traffic, with their share of occasions rising from 19% in 2019 to 27% in 2026, despite QSR recording the highest average cheque at $14 compared to other meal types.

At the same time, off-premise demand continues to expand, with delivery traffic share doubling from 5% in 2019 to 10% in 2026, reinforcing the importance of channel accessibility.

Smaller occasions are also emerging as a growth driver, with PM snack identified as the fastest-growing daypart, up 16% year-on-year and now valued at $3.7b.