In a 2023 conducted survey among fast food consumers in Australia, just over one-fifth of respondents reported eating fast food at least once a week. Around 32 percent of those surveyed said they get a meal deal with chips and a drink every time they eat at or order from a quick service restaurant (QSR).

In 2023, Australia's fast food and takeaway food services industry generated over 23 billion Australian dollars in revenue, marking a notable increase of around 2.4 billion Australian dollars from the previous year. This represented the highest revenue value for the fast food and takeaway food services sector in Australia within the given period. Australian fast food industry The fast food sector in Australia has been developing rapidly over the past decade, indicating the country's growing preference for easy dining options. Over one-fifth of Australian fast food consumers reported eating fast food at least once a week. Global fast food giants Subway and McDonald's continued to hold the top spots among the popular quick service restaurant chains in Australia as of 2025, with more than 1,230 Subway locations and almost 1,050 McDonald's outlets across the country. Nonetheless, the country’s fast food industry is evolving as more Australians express their preference for healthier dining choices. Key fast food trends Growing consumer demand for healthier and more environmentally friendly options is a notable trend across Australia's fast food industry. In a 2024 survey, when questioned about their attitudes toward food, almost 60 percent of Australian respondents indicated they were actively trying to eat healthily. Australia's fast food chains are responding to the changing consumer preferences by introducing healthy and sustainable menu items, such as plant-based alternatives and locally sourced products, as well as reducing packaging waste. Around three-quarters of Australian consumers reported that strong sustainability policies and practices were a key purchase incentive for them at a restaurant or café. In the face of changing consumer preferences and growing expenses, fast food companies in Australia must strike a balance between sustainability, affordability, quality, and convenience to remain successful in an increasingly competitive market.

This statistic shows the results of a survey conducted by Cint on the average number of times fast food from quick service restaurants was consumed per week in Australia between 2017 and 2018. In 2018, 43.73 percent of respondents in Australia stated they eat fast food less than once per week.

According to a 2024 conducted survey on fast food consumption and spending habits in Australia, those aged between 40 and 49 years old had the highest spending per month on fast food, at an average of 44 Australian dollars. Following closely, respondents aged 18 to 39 shelled out on average one Australian dollar less per month than 40 to 49-year-olds. Those aged 70 and over recorded the lowest average monthly expenditure on fast food across the age groups surveyed.

Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: Meals Out and Take Away Foods: Take Away and Fast Foods data was reported at 215.400 1989-1990=100 in Jun 2012. This records an increase from the previous number of 213.200 1989-1990=100 for Mar 2012. Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: Meals Out and Take Away Foods: Take Away and Fast Foods data is updated quarterly, averaging 118.700 1989-1990=100 from Sep 1980 (Median) to Jun 2012, with 128 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 215.400 1989-1990=100 in Jun 2012 and a record low of 45.100 1989-1990=100 in Sep 1980. Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Food: Meals Out and Take Away Foods: Take Away and Fast Foods data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.I008: Consumer Price Index: 1989-90=100.

Expert industry market research on the Fast Food and Takeaway Food Services in Australia (2008-2031). Make better business decisions, faster with IBISWorld's industry market research reports, statistics, analysis, data, trends and forecasts.

In a survey conducted between April 2017 and March 2018 about Australians who eat at fast food restaurants, 52.7 percent of respondents said they had eaten at a McDonald’s in an average six-month period. The next most popular restaurant was KFC, with 40.8 percent, followed by Subway with 30.8 percent of respondents saying they had eaten food from there at least once in six months.

Consumption and access to fast food

When considering a smaller time frame, around 45 percent of respondents to a 2018 survey said they ate fast food less than once per week. Additionally, the same survey also revealed that around 36 percent of respondents consumed fast food between one and three times per week.

A large proportion of Australians have access to quick service restaurants; a survey conducted between July 2017 and June 2018 showed that just under 44 percent of respondents have at least one restaurant within 1,500 meters. Around four percent have access to one or more premises within 400 meters.

Australians prefer American fast food chains

In September 2018, a survey conducted amongst Australian consumers showed that the most popular quick service restaurants were dominated by US chains. The most popular were McDonald’s, with 32 percent of respondents saying that it was their favorite, and KFC with 23 percent of respondents. Elsewhere, Dominos and Subway were both favored by 14 percent of respondents, and fish and chip shops also proved popular; 22 percent stated their preference for them.

As of 2025, international fast food giants Subway and McDonald's were the quick service restaurant (QSR) brands with the highest number of locations across Australia, with over 1,230 Subway locations and over 1,045 McDonald's locations recorded. While the number of Nando's restaurants has been growing in some countries, such as England, where the brand is highly popular, the number of locations across Australia has flatlined over the past few years. Guzman y Gomez, on the other hand, witnessed a rise in store openings in Australia due to a growing appetite for Mexican food across the country. Will Wendy’s take Australia’s QSR market by storm? Australia’s quick service restaurants (QSRs) are popular among consumers due to their convenient and affordable meal offerings served at a rapid pace. In 2023, the country’s fast food and takeaway food services revenue reached over 23 billion Australian dollars, marking the highest revenue recorded in the past decade. Large international fast food brands, such as McDonald’s and KFC, dominate Australia’s QSR landscape. Nonetheless, local brands, including Red Rooster, Pie Face, and Guzman y Gomez, also draw in many customers. With American fast food outlet Wendy’s set to break into the Australian marketplace by 2025, the country’s QSR market could become even more competitive, with the company set to open around 200 stores. In the coming years, taste, affordability, speed of service, variety of food, and collaboration with food delivery platforms will be pivotal to the success of QSRs across the country. Are Australian consumers’ appetite for fast food decreasing? While fast food consumption remains high across Australia, many consumers are becoming more health-conscious and, as a result, are demanding more ‘healthy’ but convenient meals from fast food outlets. Furthermore, several consumers disapprove of the fast food industry’s marketing of junk food during children’s viewing hours, as well as at sports games. In a survey conducted in 2023 among parents in Western Australia, over three-quarters of participants indicated that they believe televised coverage of sports games should be free from junk food advertising for the sake of children’s health.

The Australia Foodservice Market is segmented by Foodservice Type (Cafes & Bars, Cloud Kitchen, Full Service Restaurants, Quick Service Restaurants), by Outlet (Chained Outlets, Independent Outlets) and by Location (Leisure, Lodging, Retail, Standalone, Travel). Market Value in USD is presented. Key data points observed include the number of outlets for each foodservice channel; and, average order value in USD by foodservice channel.

Overview The report presents updated estimates of household food expenditure trends and examines further issues relating to Australia's household food expenditure. The analysis builds on a June 2017 …Show full descriptionOverview The report presents updated estimates of household food expenditure trends and examines further issues relating to Australia's household food expenditure. The analysis builds on a June 2017 ABARES report that examined recent trends in food demand in Australia and a range of food security issues. Key Issues Between 2009-10 and 2016-17, the key drivers of Australia's household food demand growth were, in order of importance, population growth, changes in tastes and preferences (including lifestyle choices), lower real food prices and real income growth. While population growth is important, increasing the number of people seeking to meet their energy and nutrition requirements, there has also been a broadly-based shift toward spending on meals out and fast foods, with the share of meals out and fast foods in household food expenditure in Australia increasing from 31 per cent in 2009-10 to 34 per cent in 2015-16. This increases food expenditure per person, all else constant. Domestic household consumption is still the most important market for food producers (based on value), but food exports have recovered strongly in recent years, from $25 billion in 2009-10 to $39 billion in 2016-17 (in 2015-16 prices); the share of exports in Australia's indicative food production increased from a recent low of 25 per cent in 2009-10 to 33 per cent in 2016-17. Two key questions posed in the report relate to food security across population sub-groups and economic opportunities for farmers and other food product and service providers. • Food security-based on average outcomes in population sub-groups in 2015-16 using HES data, the Australian Government's transfer system is important in ensuring a high level of food security across households in Australia; some households, such as those highly reliant on family support payments, may require complementary support, for example, from non-government organisations. • Economic opportunities in the domestic food supply chain-future food demand growth in Australia will be underpinned by population and income growth. For people living in higher income and/or net worth households, there is a demonstrated willingness to pay a premium for quality attributes of food products and services, including convenience factors. Food labelling is a key approach to inform consumers about quality attributes that may earn a price premium. A key challenge in the long-term trend toward increased demand for meals out and fast foods is to ensure people have information about food attributes such as nutrition content. Reliable and well understood food product and service labelling may enhance nutrition security in Australia, and allow consumers to make food choices that are more closely aligned with their tastes and preferences (including in relation to nutrition and health), and wider circumstances, as well as contributing to reducing food waste.

Australia’s takeaway food service industry has experienced robust growth in recent years, with annual revenue reaching a 20-year high of over 24.5 billion Australian dollars in 2024. Over the measured period from the year 2005, annual revenue followed a general upward trend, only dipping slightly in 2011 and 2020. Popular food delivery operators in Australia Takeout services have become the quick and convenient answer to Australian consumers’ busy lifestyles. Three main players lead the online food delivery sector. U.S. delivery aggregator Uber Eats dominates Australia’s online food delivery bookings across leading brands, with almost 70 percent of consumers having used the app in the past year, followed by competitors Menulog, the Australian subsidiary of UK-based Just Eat, and DoorDash. Alongside major takeaway apps, the country’s fast food restaurant apps play a major part in the delivery scene, with MyMacca’s and KFC – Order On The Go recording the highest number of weekly active users across popular fast food apps. What fuels Australia’s takeout habits? Partnering with food delivery aggregators has become a fundamental way for restaurants and other food services to expand their customer reach, drive sales, and stay ahead of competitors. Ordering through a third-party app or website remains the most popular food delivery method among Australian consumers, followed by ordering directly through the restaurant’s website or app. When choosing a new restaurant to try out for delivery or pickup, menu pricing and a good selection of food items were the key incentives for more than half of respondents. Recommendations from family members and friends also emerged as a pinnacle factor in Australian consumers’ takeout choices.

Australia Contribution To Total Consumer Price Index (CPI): FN: NB: Take Away & Fast Foods data was reported at 2.980 Index Point in Sep 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.970 Index Point for Jun 2017. Australia Contribution To Total Consumer Price Index (CPI): FN: NB: Take Away & Fast Foods data is updated quarterly, averaging 2.815 Index Point from Jun 2011 (Median) to Sep 2017, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.980 Index Point in Sep 2017 and a record low of 2.600 Index Point in Jun 2011. Australia Contribution To Total Consumer Price Index (CPI): FN: NB: Take Away & Fast Foods data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.I014: Consumer Price Index: Contribution to Total Consumer Price Index: 16th Series.

In a 2023 survey conducted among fast food consumers in Australia, the key driver of consumer satisfaction with fast food was taste and freshness, with just over one-quarter of respondents indicating this. Value for money and speed of service were also leading drivers of Australian consumer satisfaction with food from quick service restaurants (QSRs).

Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Sydney: Food & Non Alcoholic Beverages: Meals Out & Take Away Foods: Take Away & Fast Foods data was reported at 142.400 2011-2012=100 in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 141.900 2011-2012=100 for Sep 2024. Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Sydney: Food & Non Alcoholic Beverages: Meals Out & Take Away Foods: Take Away & Fast Foods data is updated quarterly, averaging 70.850 2011-2012=100 from Sep 1980 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 178 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 142.400 2011-2012=100 in Dec 2024 and a record low of 21.300 2011-2012=100 in Sep 1980. Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Sydney: Food & Non Alcoholic Beverages: Meals Out & Take Away Foods: Take Away & Fast Foods data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.I007: Consumer Price Index: 2011-12=100: Eight Capital Cities.

Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Brisbane: Food & Non Alcoholic Beverages: Meals Out & Take Away Foods: Take Away & Fast Foods data was reported at 143.300 2011-2012=100 in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 141.400 2011-2012=100 for Sep 2024. Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Brisbane: Food & Non Alcoholic Beverages: Meals Out & Take Away Foods: Take Away & Fast Foods data is updated quarterly, averaging 70.750 2011-2012=100 from Sep 1980 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 178 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 143.300 2011-2012=100 in Dec 2024 and a record low of 21.400 2011-2012=100 in Sep 1980. Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Brisbane: Food & Non Alcoholic Beverages: Meals Out & Take Away Foods: Take Away & Fast Foods data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.I007: Consumer Price Index: 2011-12=100: Eight Capital Cities.

Bitzios Consulting has been commissioned by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), NSW to undertake a traffic generation and parking demand survey and analysis of fast food outlets. Previous trip generation and parking demand surveys were undertaken in 1980 (Fast Food Outlets) and 1992 (Drive-through Fast Food Outlets). These studies were based on two fast food franchises, namely McDonalds and KFC, with the results showing considerable variation between franchises with McDonalds experiencing almost twice the number of visitation to KFC. RMS recognise that an update to this data and analysis is required as considerable changes have occurred since the 80’s and 90’s that may influence the trip and parking generation for fast food outlets.

Overview In recent years, ABARES has undertaken research programs that focus on two key economic aspects of Australia's food exports: world food demand to 2050 and implications for Australia’s food …Show full descriptionOverview In recent years, ABARES has undertaken research programs that focus on two key economic aspects of Australia's food exports: world food demand to 2050 and implications for Australia’s food exports; and the efficiency of Australia’s infrastructure and food export supply chains. To complement these research programs, this report examines trends and issues in Australia's food market with a focus on domestic food demand. Key Issues • The domestic market is important for Australia's food producers including farmers, food processors and food service providers. By value, around two-thirds of Australia’s food production is used in the domestic market. Food imports have become more important, particularly for processed food, but still account for a relatively low share of household food consumption (15 per cent in 2015-16). • Food is a major expenditure category for households in Australia-current housing costs, food and transport are consistently the three top expenditure categories (based on data from the 1990s and 2000s). The three top food expenditure categories are: meals out and fast foods; meat, fish and seafood; and fruit and vegetables. • Food expenditure per person tends to be higher, on average, for households with higher incomes - notably, the share of total food expenditure spent on meals out and fast foods is significantly higher for households with higher incomes. By contrast, the distribution of food expenditure is broadly similar across household groups based on net worth - that is, households with high net wealth spend relatively more on food in aggregate, but the shares spent on the main food categories are broadly similar. • The food industry supplies a broad range of food products and services in response to food demand in different segments of the domestic market. There is ongoing innovation by the food industry to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the food supply chain, including to enhance further Australia's high level of food security. For example, major food retailers have developed product lines to sell imperfect fruit and vegetables at lower prices (such as The Odd Bunch at Woolworths, and Imperfect Picks at Harris Farm Markets). Patterns of food expenditure indicate there are also likely to be ongoing economic opportunities to obtain a price premium for reliable food quality attributes.

According to a survey conducted in Australia in the year ended June 2018, around 44 percent of respondents stated they had access to one or more fast food outlets within 1,500 meters. In general, a greater share of respondents living in urban areas were closer to fast food restaurants than people in regional or rural areas.

Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Darwin: Food & Non Alcoholic Beverages: Meals Out & Take Away Foods: Take Away & Fast Foods data was reported at 141.600 2011-2012=100 in Sep 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 140.800 2011-2012=100 for Jun 2024. Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Darwin: Food & Non Alcoholic Beverages: Meals Out & Take Away Foods: Take Away & Fast Foods data is updated quarterly, averaging 69.000 2011-2012=100 from Sep 1980 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 177 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 141.600 2011-2012=100 in Sep 2024 and a record low of 22.900 2011-2012=100 in Sep 1980. Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Darwin: Food & Non Alcoholic Beverages: Meals Out & Take Away Foods: Take Away & Fast Foods data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.I007: Consumer Price Index: 2011-12=100: Eight Capital Cities.

In a 2024 conducted survey regarding perceived hygiene standards of food and beverage businesses in Australia, around 24 percent of respondents said that fast food chains in their neighborhood were very or quite unhygienic. In comparison, approximately 30 percent of those surveyed were of the view that fast food outlets in Australia were very or quite hygienic.