Restaurant Growth Flat in 2008

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.—The NPD Group’s latest ReCount® census of commercial restaurant locations in the United States showed no growth in the number of total restaurants in 2008, compared to a 2-percent growth in 2007.

The census, which is conduced twice a year, revealed major and midsize chain restaurants--led by the largest chains--were up 1 percent; smaller chains and independent units declined. The family dining segment declined, while the QSR segment added units at a much slower rate. The fine dining segment saw the sharpest decline in units, led by independents. Fine dining chains, which represent a small portion of the segment, continued to expand.

“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,” said Greg Starzynski, director, product development-foodservice at NPD.