Fast food industry analysis is a detailed exploration of the fast food industry to identify emerging trends and make projections about the future of this sector of the economy. It usually covers fast food in a specific region or nation to provide detailed information about a particular market. Analysts with experience in economics, politics, and the restaurant industry can be involved in the preparation of a fast food industry analysis. Governments, investors, and members of the fast food industry may commission such an analysis for the purpose of making decisions about business practices and policy moves.
The analysis may start with an overview of the industry. The analyst discusses the history of the industry, with a particular focus on the history in a given region, taking note of historic growth rates and key events. This lays the groundwork for a discussion of the industry in its current state. This can include yearly sales figures, profiles of major fast food companies in a region, and discussions about customer surveys and other tools used to measure public attitudes about fast food.
The analyst pulls this information together to make predictions about where the industry is likely to go over the course of the next few years or decades. The fast food industry analysis can discuss the likelihood of growth as well as emerging trends that may be important to know about, like consumer concerns about particular ingredients. It can also look at regulations with a potential to impact the industry, such as changes to health codes, product labeling requirements, and so forth. The fast food industry analysis should provide a complete overview of what to expect in the future.
Members of the industry use analyses to make decisions about how and where to expand. They also use them for adjusting product lineups, working on new advertisements, and reforming corporate missions to align them with consumer interests. If consumers are expressing concerns about animal welfare, for example, a company might choose to pursue humane certification for its animal products to appeal to consumers.
Investors can rely on a fast food industry analysis to make investment decisions, looking for growth sectors in the industry and companies likely to perform well. For regulators, such documents are helpful for identifying new areas of regulatory concern, measuring the effect of regulations on the industry, and developing better regulations to protect consumer interests without damaging those of the industry.