Fast Food (QSR) Trends 26/27: Report 1 – Spaces & Experiences
Published 21 November 2025
Fast food operators are scaling up globally with stronger local relevance, adapting menus, formats and store design for new audiences. They’re also taking an agile approach through extended hours, flexible formats and creative delivery strategies that align with shifting lifestyles. As dining becomes more experience-led, brands are using immersive environments, entertainment tie-ins and gamified loyalty to build deeper emotional connections.
New Fast Food Frontiers
Unlocking New Meal Moments
Fast Food’s Experience Economy
The fast food sector is undergoing a rapid global expansion, with brands launching first-time outlets in markets from Mumbai to Madrid. These openings are increasingly tailored to local tastes, from menu tweaks to culturally attuned spaces. Meanwhile, savvy operators are introducing lifestyle-driven settings, designed both for consumers who want expediency and those who wish to languish in situ.
The fast food sector is undergoing a rapid global expansion, with brands launching first-time outlets in markets from Mumbai to Madrid. These openings are increasingly tailored to local tastes, from menu tweaks to culturally attuned spaces. Meanwhile, savvy operators are introducing lifestyle-driven settings, designed both for consumers who want expediency and those who wish to languish in situ.
Fast food brands are tapping into new consumption occasions with late-night menus, morning-after mocktails and midday meal upgrades. Strategies include data-driven menu aggregation, vending machine-exclusive products and premium ready-to-eat ranges. By aligning with consumers’ evolved routines and habits, brands are expanding their remit and relevance.
Fast food and casual dining brands are increasingly becoming cultural curators, blending leisure, nostalgia and entertainment to deepen consumer buy-in. From immersive pop-ups and museum-style tributes to nightlife-inspired dining and student-led music nights, inventive establishments are shapeshifting into social and experiential hubs. Meanwhile, gamified loyalty programmes shift membership models from transactional to emotional.
Fast Food (QSR) Trends 26/27: Report 1 – Spaces & Experiences
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