According to NPD's Spring 2009 ReCount, collected from April 1, 2008, to March 31, 2009, major chains (500+ units), were up 1%. Midsize chains (100-499 units) and all other [image-nocss] system sizes including independents declined. In terms of restaurant styles, the family dining segment continues to contract across all system types while the largest quick-service restaurant (QSR) segment showed no unit growth overall versus last spring. The fine dining segment saw the sharpest decline in units.
"It's clear that independent restaurants and smaller chains have been most impacted by the slower economy," said Susan Kleutsch, director, product development-foodservice at NPD. "The recession appears to have weeded out restaurants performing poorly prior to the economic downturn, and this seems most true for independents and smaller chains that are likely having a hard time competing with the resources and marketing power of major chains."
In terms of restaurant unit counts by U.S. Census regions, declines ranged from no growth to down 2%. The hardest hit is the West North Central census region, where units declined by 2% compared to last spring. On the other end of the spectrum, unit counts were flat in the East South Central, West South Central, Mountain and Pacific regions.
Last week, NPD reported that restaurant traffic, still feeling the impact of rising unemployment and thrifty consumers, declined in the spring quarter ending May 2009. It said total restaurant industry traffic declined 2.6% for this year's spring quarter versus the same quarter last year. This is the sharpest decline in industry traffic since 1981. (Click here for CSP Daily News coverage.)
The NPD Group, Chicago, is a leading provider consumer and retail information for a variety of industries. Information is available for the following industry sectors: automotive, beauty, commercial technology, consumer technology, entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, foodservice, home, office supplies, software, sports, toys and wireless.
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