EXCLUSIVE: Bakery chains outperforming industry's food-to-go visit average: study

They also have a higher grade in customer satisfaction.

Bakery chains are outperforming the wider QSR channel in food-to-go visits, according to a new study from The NPD Group.

Specifically, eight out of ten purchases from bakery chains are consumed on-the-go compared to seven out of ten for total QSRs.

NPD explains that a chain’s location is the key reason consumers pick an establishment for food-to-go visits and the wider QSR channel. However, bakeries were able to find its sweet spot and outperform the QSR channel in those areas due to its “ability to also deliver on good price, quality of food and variety.”

Bakeries also have a higher grade in terms of the overall experience (77.3%) and customer satisfaction (64.2) in food-to-go compared to the industry’s average ratings of 72.9% and 59.4%, respectively.

“By meeting the demands of food-to-go consumers, QS Bakery enjoys higher customer satisfaction both for overall experience and for making people feel like they are a valued customer in food-to-go, it goes without saying that convenience remains crucial,” The NPD Group explained.

The study came from The NPD Group’s Bakery Trends Tracker, a new quarterly initiative capturing key sales and visit trends in the bakery sector.