The explosive growth of fast casual restaurants and other alternatives to traditional fast food establishments has caused many people to declare that fast food burger places are dying out. The slumping sales at McDonald\u2019s over the past three years has added fuel to observers\u2019 claims that burger joints are on the way out. However, the fast food doomsayers are looking at the data incorrectly. American consumers like quick-service burgers just as much as they always have, and demand will remain steady for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n
Despite McDonald\u2019s recent difficulties, the fast food burger market has actually been growing overall. Smaller chains like Sonic, Whataburger, and Hardee\u2019s have all increased their sales over the last few years. Titans like Wendy\u2019s and Burger King have been doing well too, with Wendy\u2019s reporting strong same-store sales growth this year.<\/p>\n
Some analysts believe that strong growth for other burger chains comes at McDonald\u2019s expense, but industry experts say that\u2019s just not true. Wendy\u2019s and Sonic have both stated that McDonald\u2019s business fortunes do not affect them materially for good or ill. McDonald\u2019s is also taking steps to get out of its funk by introducing all-day breakfast and simplifying its menu. Early reports indicate that these measures will go a long way towards reversing the chain\u2019s same-store sales declines.<\/p>\n