Global foodservice trends driven by QSR segment performance

Higher check averages at restaurants around the world during Q2 helped to increase the overall consumer spending in every country except Spain and Italy, according to new data from The NPD Group.

NPD's Crest foodservice market research shows that traffic was mixed for the quarter, reflecting each country's economic environment and consumer confidence levels.

Australia and Great Britain were the only two established foodservice markets to post traffic count increases in the second quarter.  

The fledgling foodservice markets of China and Russia also posted traffic gains. Spain, after years of pulling down overall traffic performance in the European market, did not have the steepest traffic declines in the quarter, but Italy did with a 2 percent loss in visits.

Germany also posted a 1-percent traffic decline, after a positive first quarter. Jochen Pinsker, SVP of NPD Foodservice-Europe, said the drop was influenced by the World Cup.

"In addition, there was a hygiene crisis for one of the major quick-service chains, which affected other quick-service chains. The bright spot in the quarter was the 2 percent increase in consumer spending," he said in a news release.

In May, a TV report exposed hygiene violations at Burger King restaurants in Germany.

QSRs significant footprint

Additionally, the importance of QSRs to the global foodservice marketplace was evident in Q2. According to NPD, the four countries with growing traffic counts all posted visit increases from the QSR segment. Quick-service traffic was down in the countries that experienced visit declines in the quarter.

"Globally, without better performance from quick-service restaurants and more demand from consumers at lunch, the industry will continue to eddy about, growing here and declining there, with no clear direction," Bob O'Brien, global SVP-NPD Foodservice, said in the release.