Inside the $652.73 Billion Fast-Food Industry (3 Stocks to Know Today)

Consumers can’t get enough of fast food in 2023. Find out why – and which stocks are the industry’s must-watch players... [Derby City Daily logo] [Derby City Daily logo] [Inside the $652.73 Billion Fast-Food Industry (3 Stocks to Know Today)]( By Andy Swan Whether it was Red's Giant Hamburg in Springfield, Missouri, in 1947, or the In-N-Out Burger in {NAME} Park a year later that introduced America to the now-ubiquitous drive-thru is still up for debate. (I’d give the credit to Harry and Esther Snyder of In-N-Out with their brilliant two-way speaker system invention, but that’s just me.) What’s not up for debate is how the drive-thru revolutionized the American dining experience – weaving fast food into the very fabric of American culture and creating the $652.73 billion industry we know today. There are now over 200,000 drive-thrus across the country where consumers can find affordable, high-quality food options ready nearly immediately. But the fast-food heyday we’re having right now goes far beyond the drive-thru... The key factors driving the fast-food industry’s growth in 2023: ✓ Economic Factors and Affordability With grocery prices rising significantly – [cereal]( and baked goods prices are up 29% since 2020 – fast food offers a competitive alternative for cash-strapped consumers, while loyalty programs enhance affordability. ✓ Convenience and Changing Dining Habits According to the National Restaurant Association, [sit-down dining]( decreased by as much as 14% between February 2020 and April 2023. But drive-thru dining? That increased 12% over the same time period. The post-pandemic return-to-work movement has only propelled fast food's popularity further – with fast-food business openings up 10% in recent months. ✓ Technological Advancements and Automation A massive industry shift toward automation and artificial intelligence (AI) is taking the convenience, affordability, and profit potential of fast-food restaurants to the next level... [⚠️"99% of Public Investing in AI the Wrong Way”]( Landon and I just issued an urgent warning for Derby City Daily readers. Make sure you’re not one of the 99% [by watching this now](. Chipotle ([CMG]( started using robots to streamline chip-making around this time last year. It’s now got robots whipping up guac, salads, and burrito bowls, too. Starbucks ([SBUX]( has been riding the AI train since 2020 with its sights set on improving the customer experience. And McDonald’s ([MCD]( is trying its hand at AI-run drive-thrus in select locations. These three restaurant giants were all in the top 10 when it came to U.S. fast-food sales in 2022. And in 2023, they’re each looking to integrate digital accessibility, drive-thru convenience, and compelling loyalty programs to win over consumers – and deliver profits to shareholders. [Today, you’ll get an exclusive look at how Chipotle, McDonald’s, and Starbucks stack up against each other as we show you how we’re playing these stocks from here...]( [Click here to continue reading]( [Andy Swan's signature] [Andy Swan's signature] Andy Swan Senior Analyst, Derby City Insights Get Instant Access Click to read these free reports and automatically sign up for research throughout the week. [25 Doomed Blue Chip Stocks]( [The Infinite Income Manifesto]( © 2023 TradeSmith, LLC t/a Derby City Insights. All Rights Reserved. 1125 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 To unsubscribe or change your email preferences, please [click here](. [Terms of Use]( | [Privacy Policy](