{"id":784889,"date":"2024-07-31T16:03:22","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T14:03:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=784889"},"modified":"2024-07-31T16:08:07","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T14:08:07","slug":"the-most-popular-fast-food-chains-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/business\/784889\/the-most-popular-fast-food-chains-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"The most popular fast food chains in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Although down from 2022, fast food franchises continue to boom in South Africa, with KFC maintaining its position as the country’s preferred quick meal chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Africans are spoilt for choice when it comes to purchasing a hot meal served almost instantaneously, with an estimated<\/a> 5,983 fast food restaurants nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sector is expected to have revenue<\/a> reach R90 billion by 2026 as according to consumer insights and data science firm Eighty20, one out of every two adult South Africans \u2013 totaling 23.4 million people \u2013 purchased fast food in the past year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the firm sought to find out who makes up South Africa’s top 10 most popular franchises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using MAPS data from a nationally representative survey of 20,000 people conducted by the Market Research Foundation, Eighty20 found that one pizza restaurant, five primarily beef-focused establishments and four chicken establishments make up the country’s top 10 most popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to note that the data focuses on tracking customer numbers instead of revenue<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the report, the top 10 most popular fast food outlets in South Africa for 2024 are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. KFC;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Chicken Licken;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. McDonald’s;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Debonairs;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Hungry Lion;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Burger King;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Spur;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Steers;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Nando’s;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Wimpy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    “Approximately 20 million [people] dined at a fast food outlet in the past month,” said Eighty20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    “Notably, 90% of these 20 million individuals chose to eat at one of the top 10 fast food outlets,” said Eighty20.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"<\/a>
    Source: Eighty20<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    \u201cCollectively, 16.3 million people have eaten from the top 5 fast food outlets (KFC, Chicken Licken, McDonald\u2019s, Debonairs and Hungry Lion) in the past month, which is higher than the 16.2 million South Africans who voted in the recent election,” said Eighty20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The top 10 fast food outlets showed some variability, with McDonald\u2019s swapping to 3rd place with Debonairs in the most recent research. However overall, most have remained relatively consistent in their positioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cDespite the number who eat out remaining stable, all outlets in the top 10 except KFC, have lost customers,” said Andrew Fulton, Director at Eighty20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The consumer data firm said that this is because fast food customer behaviour reflects economic trends over the past year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    “Restaurants that gained customers according to MAPS include Pedro\u2019s, Fish and Chip Co, Galito\u2019s and Honcho\u2019s [suggesting] that people are not eating out less but are opting for more affordable options<\/strong>,\u201d added Fulton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    According to the research, the biggest factors influencing South Africans’ choice of food outlet are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Primary Factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n