US Restaurant Unit Count Flat in 2008
The number of restaurants opening was balanced out by the number of restaurants closing, resulting in no growth in total restaurant units in 2008,
according to The NPD Group.
NPD's latest
ReCount, a census of commercial restaurant locations in the United States conducted in the spring and fall each year, found that restaurant industry unit count was flat in 2008, compared with 2% growth in 2007.
- Major and midsize chain restaurants, led by the largest chains (500+ units), were up 1%. Smaller chains (3-49 units) and independent unit growth was negative.
- The family dining segment contracted across all system types while the QSR segment continued to add units, though at a much slower rate.
- The fine dining segment underwent the sharpest decline in units, led by independents. Fine dining chains, which constitute a small portion of the segment, continued to expand.
In terms of restaurant unit counts by geography, NPD found that the West United States (Census Bureau Region) increased its total restaurant units 1%, whereas the Northeast 0 region decreased restaurant units 1%. The South census region stayed flat compared with a year ago, and the North region decreased units 1%.
"In any given year, chains are opening and closing units based on performance and other factors," said Greg Starzynski, director, product development-foodservice at NPD. "However, the recession this past year has had the most negative impact on the small chains and independents, and full service restaurants that were performing poorly prior to the economic downturn."
