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Fast Casual Guests Want More Than Value.
They Want a Better Experience.

The 2026 Fast Casual Panel Study report from Market Force is now available!

The study reveals how guests choose fast casual restaurants, which brands lead key competitive benchmarks, and where expectations are rising across food quality, value, convenience, technology, delivery, loyalty, and social engagement.

This interactive report helps fast casual brands understand what matters most to guests, and where competitors are gaining ground.

GET THE FAST CASUAL REPORT NOW →

Access the full 2026 Fast Casual Panel Study report

The Fast Casual Panel Study gives your team a clearer view of how guests evaluate fast casual brands and where the biggest opportunities are hiding. Use the report to identify where your brand is winning, where competitors are outperforming, and which guest experience investments are most likely to matter.

  • Clickable charts and interactive results
  • Brand-by-brand comparisons
  • Guest behavior, value, quality, and technology benchmarks
  • Actionable insights for CX, marketing, operations, loyalty, and digital teams

Submit the form to access the full interactive results, including brand comparisons, benchmark data, and guest experience insights across the fast casual category.

Fill out the form to receive the report via email instantly:

Fast casual loyalty is being won across the full guest experience

Convenience still matters. In fact, convenient location is the most common reason guests say they choose a fast casual brand. But when guests are forced to name the most important factor in restaurant choice, food quality rises to the top.

The data shows a more complex value equation than price alone. Guests connect value with food quality, portion size, friendly service, healthy options, rewards, and promotions. 

Highlights from the study

The full results reveal where guests are spending, which brands lead key benchmarks, and how value, food quality, loyalty, and technology shape fast casual choice.

37%

37% say food quality is the most important factor in restaurant choice

Good quality food is the leading restaurant choice driver and the top reason guests identify a brand as a best value option. Price matters, but guests define value through a broader experience.

Implication: Fast casual brands cannot discount their way to durable loyalty. The strongest value position starts with the food experience.

72%

72% prefer ordering delivery directly from the brand

Guests overwhelmingly prefer direct brand ordering over third-party delivery. The top reasons include earning rewards, seeing the full menu, avoiding higher fees, accessing better menu pricing, and tracking orders.

Implication: Direct ordering is a loyalty, value, and guest data opportunity, if the experience is easy, reliable, and rewarding.

49%

49% believe fast casual brands are using today’s technology in ways that best serve customers

Guests show a strong preference for direct ordering, but fewer than half say fast casual brands are using technology in ways that best serve them, suggesting many guests have not yet seen a clear enough benefit.

Implication: Fast casual brands have room to make technology more useful, intuitive, and connected to the guest experience.

A peek a what’s inside the full Fast Casual Panel Study

Access the full interactive results set to explore the benchmarks, gaps, and guest expectations shaping fast casual performance.

Brand rankings and competitive benchmarks

Purchase frequency and monthly meal spend

Restaurant choice drivers

Suggestions for improving customer value

Preferred delivery ordering methods

Best use of technology by brand