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Industry Analysis Articles

Browse all industry analysis articles from QSR Pro

180 articles in Industry Analysis

AllFinance & EconomicsIndustry AnalysisMarketing & GrowthOperations & ManagementPeople & CultureTechnology & Innovation
Showing 163–180 of 180
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Franchisee
Industry Analysis•March 2026

Franchisee Advisory Councils: Powerless Theater or Genuine Influence?

Every major QSR brand has a franchisee advisory council. Most operators think they're window dressing. The reality is more complicated — and more consequential — than either side admits.

QSR Pro Staff•9 min read•2,421
2030
Industry Analysis•March 2026

The Regional Chain Playbook: How Raising Cane's Plans to Triple Unit Count by 2030

The chicken fingers chain that stayed company-owned, stayed simple, and stayed patient is now executing one of the most ambitious expansion plans in QSR history

QSR Pro Staff•10 min read•1,836
Behind
Industry Analysis•March 2026

Behind the Counter: Why Multi-Unit Operators Are Exiting Subway En Masse

The world's largest restaurant chain by unit count is losing its most experienced operators — and the reasons go deeper than foot traffic

QSR Pro Staff•9 min read•9,900
25
Industry Analysis•March 2026

The 25 Fastest-Growing QSR Chains in America Right Now

While the restaurant industry is projected to grow just over 4% in 2025, a select group of quick-service chains is crushing that benchmark. These 25 brands are expanding at breakneck speed, opening hundreds of locations, and reshaping the competitive landscape through smart strategies, loyal...

QSR Pro Staff•6 min read•2,111
2026
Industry Analysis•March 2026

Every Major QSR Chain Ranked by Customer Satisfaction in 2026

Customer satisfaction drives repeat visits, and repeat visits drive profit. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) has been measuring how QSR chains stack up for over a decade, and the 2025-2026 data reveals clear winners, persistent losers, and a few surprises.

QSR Pro Staff•7 min read•3,291
Fast
Industry Analysis•March 2026

Fast Casual Is Dead, Long Live Fast Casual: The Great QSR Convergence

The line between quick service and fast casual is disappearing — and that changes everything about how the industry competes

McDonald'sChipotlePanera Bread
QSR Pro Staff•8 min read•2,576
International
Industry Analysis•March 2026

International Expansion Playbook: How American QSRs Win (or Lose) Abroad

From menu localization to master franchise deals, the strategies that determine whether U.S. chains thrive or fail overseas

McDonald'sStarbucksTechnology
QSR Pro Staff•9 min read•1,544
Starbucks
Industry Analysis•March 2026

Starbucks Under New Management: How Brian Niccol's Chipotle Playbook Is Reshaping the World's Largest Coffee Chain

Eighteen months into his tenure, the former Chipotle CEO has closed 600 stores, cut 2,000 corporate jobs, and finally delivered the traffic growth Wall Street has been waiting for

StarbucksChipotleTechnology
QSR Pro Staff•9 min read•5,374
Regional
Industry Analysis•March 2026

The Regional Chain Advantage: Why Whataburger, Culver's, and Wawa Are Outperforming National Brands in Customer Satisfaction

While McDonald's languishes at the bottom of satisfaction rankings, regional powerhouses are proving that disciplined growth, owner-operator culture, and geographic identity are the real competitive moats in QSR.

McDonald'sChick-fil-ATechnology
QSR Pro Staff•9 min read•3,959
Value
Industry Analysis•March 2026

The Value Meal War: How McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's Are Fighting for America's Shrinking Fast-Food Dollar

With traffic declining and middle-income consumers fleeing to grocery stores, the Big Three burger chains are locked in the most aggressive value battle since the dollar menu era

McDonald'sTechnologydrive-thru
QSR Pro Staff•9 min read•4,511
Rise
Industry Analysis•March 2026

The Rise of Chicken: How Poultry Overtook Beef as America's Dominant QSR Protein

From Chick-fil-A's $22 billion empire to Raising Cane's explosive expansion, chicken has reshaped the quick-service landscape — and the transformation is accelerating

Menu Innovation
QSR Pro Staff•9 min read•2,201
25
Industry Analysis•March 2026

QSR Pro's Inaugural Power Rankings: The 25 Chains That Matter Most in 2026

A data-driven ranking of the top 25 quick-service chains by unit growth, same-store sales trajectory, and breakout potential — plus our predictions for who crosses 5,000 units by 2030

Data & AnalyticsSame-Store Sales
QSR Pro Staff•14 min read•4,715
Chick
Industry Analysis•November 2025

Chick-fil-A's Expansion Strategy: What Every Franchise Brand Can Learn

Chick-fil-A generates $9.3 million per location while closed every Sunday. How their operator selection, menu simplification, and unit-level focus create a model other franchise brands should study.

QSR Pro Staff•6 min read•1,024
Raising
Industry Analysis•November 2025

Why Raising Cane's Refuses to Franchise (And Why That's Brilliant)

Raising Cane's operates 700+ company-owned locations generating $3M+ AUV with zero franchises. Here's why the company-owned model delivers better results than franchising.

QSR Pro Staff•9 min read•2,262
Shake
Industry Analysis•November 2025

Shake Shack vs Five Guys vs In-N-Out: Which Premium Burger Model Actually Wins?

All three charge $8-$12 for burgers, but their business models couldn't be more different. Here's which premium burger franchise is accessible, profitable, and worth the investment.

QSR Pro Staff•8 min read•2,447
Panda
Industry Analysis•November 2025

The Panda Express Franchise Myth: Why You Can't Buy One (And How They Actually Work)

Panda Express doesn't franchise in the US. Here's why the 2,400+ location chain stays company-owned, how they generate $2M+ AUV, and what this means for prospective franchisees.

QSR Pro Staff•8 min read•1,425
Tim
Industry Analysis•November 2025

Why Tim Hortons Keeps Failing in the US (Despite Dominating Canada)

Tim Hortons has 4,000+ Canadian locations and 75% market share. In the US? Under 650 struggling stores. Here's what went wrong and why Canadian dominance doesn't translate south.

QSR Pro Staff•9 min read•3,513
Chicken
Industry Analysis•November 2025

The Chicken Sandwich Wars Are Over. Here's What Won.

Popeyes lit the match in August 2019. Six years later, Chick-fil-A's systemwide sales have grown from $10.5 billion to $22.7 billion. McDonald's chicken became its fastest-growing protein. Popeyes itself still struggles with franchisee profitability. The war reshaped the entire $63.7 billion U.S. chicken QSR segment.

QSR Pro Staff•8 min read
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