Fast Food Consumption In The U.S. Shows $1,200 Yearly Spend

So you’ve been buying more fast food than ever since the pandemic started, and you’re not alone. Drive-thrus were the only aspect of the restaurant industry that was thriving throughout 2020 when most establishments were forced to either keep customers out of their restaurants or shut down. 

Locations and establishments that had drive-thrus were lucky enough to provide consumers with a safe and easy way to consume habitual fast-food orders. So while your favorite mom-and-pop restaurant was shut down, it goes without saying why McDonald’s drive-thru was overflowing.

According to a survey by The Counter, nearly three-quarters of U.S. consumers said they had used a drive-thru since the start of the pandemic, which marks a 43% increase since April 2020.

The survey also reports that 90% of customers now prefer curbside pick-up over heading inside a restaurant location to receive their food orders. Have we just become lazy, or is it because we’re used to the luxury of sitting in our cars and getting products handed to us?

The answer is the latter. It’s become a habit for us to be accommodated through curbside pick up and drive-thrus, which explains why many restaurants and establishments with drive-thru accessibility have managed to stay afloat.

The pandemic has not only helped these restaurants stay in business, but the drive-thru aspect of the industry has enhanced the American affinity with fast food. These companies like McDonald’s, Burger King, In-N-Out, and more, have taken action by creating more lanes, more space in parking lots, and even designating certain areas in the lot for outdoor dining.

Fast-food giant Burger King recently shared plans to center their company around the drive-thru experience when they noticed its relevance during the pandemic. The chain’s new design concept is called “The Restaurant of Tomorrow.”

Revisions like these are truly important if fast-food chains want to capitalize on the demand for drive-thrus. According to QSR, the average U.S. consumer spends more than $1,200 a year on drive-thru food. Drive-thru tips also increased by 26% in Q2 of 2020.

Additionally, when restaurants began getting back on their feet and reopening last July, drive-thru rates also increased by 13%. This number demonstrated the highest rate increase within all service models, including dine-in, takeout, and delivery.

Drive-thrus have become a saving grace for the restaurant industry. Not only this, but according to PYMNTS, they’ve also helped consumers find a sense of normalcy in their eating habits and buying behaviors.