Australia’s quick-service restaurant (QSR) sector is expanding fast. New locations are popping up across metropolitan and regional areas, global brands like Wendy’s and Wingstop are entering the market, and local QSRs are having to adapt quickly. But what’s driving all this growth?
It comes down to two few key factors: cost-of-living pressures and time-poor lifestyles.
The impact of cost-of-living pressures on customer behaviour
While it’s no surprise that rising costs of living reduce disposable income, customers haven’t stopped eating out – they’re just looking for better value. Increasingly, customers are looking for bundled offers, comparing meal value, choosing to buy from a QSR instead of full-service dining, and prioritising convenience and predictability. By responding with consistent, accessibly priced meals, QSRs will continue to see growth through this period.
The opportunity for QSRs as time-poor lifestyles become the norm
Convenience has always been a core benefit of the QSR model, but it’s becoming more important than ever. Modern households are dealing with longer commutes, busy social schedules, working more than one job, and family commitments – which all leave little time for cooking.
This makes speed of service and delivery one of the quick service restaurant sector’s biggest competitive advantages.
Obviously delivery platforms play a big role in this, but proximity to restaurants is also becoming a factor. According to the latest Fast Food & Quick Service Restaurant Annual Report from GapMaps, 82% of Australians are within 3 km of Australia’s top 5 QSRs. This same report showed that 250 new quick service restaurants were opened in 2025 alone – the strongest annual increase in a decade.
Such close proximity lowers the barrier for customers who are deciding whether to get takeaway or cook at home. It also encourages impulse purchasing and repeat visitation habits.
The next phase of growth
Australia’s quick-service restaurant sector is expected to more than double by 2034, with an annual growth rate of roughly 8.45%. Even as global brands seek to gain a foothold here, demand for fast food isn’t slowing down – in fact, it’s increasing.
For QSRs who can adapt to the changing market and provide value and convenience, this period of growth could be an enormous opportunity.