Press release from the NPD Group. Presented without comment.
NPD Spring 2009 Restaurant Count Shows Units Down by 4,000
Chicago, July 27, 2009 – There are 4,000 fewer restaurants in the United States this spring than there were last spring, according to The NPD Group, a leading market research company. NPD’s Spring 2009 ReCount®, which is a census of commercial restaurant locations in the United States compiled in the spring and fall each year, shows restaurant industry units down -1 percent, or about 4,000 units, compared to no growth in spring 2008.
According to NPD’s Spring 2009 ReCount, collected from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009, major chains (500+ units), were up +1 percent. Midsize chains (100-499 units) and all other 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 percent. 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.
1 comment
Ted Hurlbut says:
August 2, 2009 at 12:26 am (UTC -8)
This recession has shaken out any independent retailer or restasuranteur who had failed to caeve out a distinctyive niche for themselves and earn a loyal clientele, and will continue to do so, even as the economy stabilizes and begins to recover.