Thanks for Visiting!

Register for free to get the full story.

Sign Up
Already have a Placer.ai account? Log In

Digging Into 2023: McDonald’s and Chipotle Update

by 
Ezra Carmel
 on 
April 20, 2023
Digging Into 2023: McDonald’s and Chipotle Update

When we last checked in with McDonald’s and Chipotle, the brands’ visit growth was outpacing that of their category peers and the introduction of new initiatives were helping to drive foot traffic and sales. With Q1 2023 in the books, we dove into the recent performance of both chains to consider what might lie ahead for the remainder of 2023.

Arches Up

McDonald’s capped off 2022 on a high note, with strategic price increases and eye-catching promotions driving both sales and foot traffic. And with planned expansions and advances in automation taking form, McDonald’s appears to be hitting 2023 in stride. 

Since the start of 2023, McDonald’s weekly year-over-year (YoY) visits consistently outperformed that of its QSR peers. For the first 14 weeks of the year, the brand saw weekly foot traffic growth compared to 2022 every week – even when the QSR category as a whole was experiencing foot traffic declines.

Chipotle on a Roll

Chipotle also began 2023 by building upon 2022’s success as the company continues to expand its footprint. Wrapped up with Chipotle’s growth is a commitment to innovation, including investments in the highly successful Chipotlanes – fully digital drive-thrus – and most recently, a sustainable restaurant design that is to feature prominently in future locations.

Since the start of 2023, Chipotle’s weekly YoY traffic consistently outperformed that of its fast-casual restaurant peers. The only hiccup in Chipotle’s visit growth was the week of April 3rd, 2023 which included Easter Sunday, when more consumers may have chosen to eat at home with friends and family. And even during that week, Chipotle’s foot traffic still outperformed the wider fast-casual category, so many consumers who did dine out continued to choose Chipotle over other fast-casual restaurants. 

Loyalty Drives Visits

Chipotle and McDonald's are not just succeeding in driving traffic and outperforming their respective categories. The brands’ loyalty programs and digital dominance are also driving an increase in the share of repeat customers – indicating these chains’ potential for continued long-term growth. Through 2022, Chipotle and McDonald’s had approximately 30 million and 50 million digital rewards members, respectively, and these growing loyalty programs had a significant impact on the frequency of brick-and-mortar visits. 

Analysis of visitation metrics for Chipotle and McDonald’s revealed that in Q1 2023, 32.3% of Chipotle’s in-person visitors visited the chain at least twice during the quarter – compared to 30.8% in Q1 2022. Also in Q1 2023, 53.2% of McDonald’s in-person visitors frequented the chain at least two times – up from 50.1% in Q1 2022. It appears that these powerhouse dining chains have found a recipe for both digital and in-person visit growth. 

Hungry for More

McDonald’s and Chipotle are continuing their success stories in the dining space. Both brands consistently drive visits through expansion and innovation that resonate with hungry diners. And as the two chains grow their digital and physical footprints, consumers are visiting these dining destinations more frequently. 

For updates and more data-driven dining insights, visit Placer.ai.

Get 3 brand & industry
breakdowns every week

Subscribe to the newsletter

Great! Prepare your inbox for data-driven insights...
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Get a Demo

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please provide a valid email
Please enter your email
Please enter company name

Thanks for reaching out!

One of our experts will be in touch soon

Try Placer.ai Free
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Text Link
McDonald's
Text Link
Chipotle
Pent-Up Demand Ahead of October Sales Events
4 Strategies Retailers are Using to Drive Traffic to Their Venues
5 Key Regional Grocery Players Impressing in 2023
Upscale Kitchenware Trending Up
Costco Finds More Room for Growth
Four C-Store Chains Making an A-Grade
National Parks + Outdoor Summer Activities
Diving Into Darden: Summer 2023 Update
The Summer Event Effect
Messi: Massive in Miami
Looking Back on Back to School 2023
The Anchor Recap: August 2023
Placer.ai Office Index: August 2023 Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index: August 2023 Recap
Placer.ai White Paper Recap: August 2023
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Strikes Again
Big Scoop: We All Scream For Ice Cream
Sports Away: Lululemon & Nike’s Momentum Continues
Summer Visits Heat Up For Recreation and Outdoor Gear Chains
No CSS overwrite - July 2023 Office Index Recap
Staging - August 2023 Mall Indec
Mid-Atlantic Grocery Deep Dive
Experiential Chains Heating Up This Summer
Petco Goes Big by Going Small
Ulta Beauty: Leading the Discretionary Pack
Discount and Dollar Chains Continue to Thrive
Summer of Sports: DICK’s Sporting Goods and Hibbett Sports
Off-Price: Succeeding Into Summer
The Anchor Recap: July 2023
Superstores Maintaining Pandemic Gains Amidst Economic Headwinds
2023: Home Improvement at the Halfway Point
July 2023 Office Index Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index: July 2023 Recap
widget test
The Taylor Swift Visit Lift
Southwestern Grocery Dive
July 2023 White Paper Recap: Halfway Point Review & Quarterly Index
Yum! Brands: Driving Dining Visits
Slurpees and Summer Movies Stimulate Consumer Foot Traffic
Cool Beans: Summer Coffee Update
Checking In on Back to School 2023
Crocs and New Balance Tip The Scales
Burger Bliss: Shake Shack and In-N-Out Stacking Visits
Chipotle & McDonald's Continue to Reign Supreme
Vibenomics and Placer.ai Partner to Enhance Retail Media In-Store Measurement
California Grocers Here We Come!
Marriott’s Different Audiences
Bonchon and Kura Sushi Thrive in the Fast-Casual Scene
A Shoe In: Footwear Climbs to the Top
Cheers! Raising a Glass to Beverage Retail
Placer.ai Office Index: June 2023 Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index June 2023 Recap – A Turn of the Tide and a Dive into Open-Air Lifestyle Centers
Local Kitchens: Redefining the Restaurant
Unlocking Urban Insights: The Value in Manhattan’s Employees
Ohio State Parks On The Rise
How is Inflation Impacting the High-Income Shoppers?
Five Fast-Growing Dining Chains
What To Expect From Prime Day and July Sales Events in 2023
The State Of Fashion: How Are Apparel Retailers Faring in 2023?
2023’s Latest Dining Success Story: GEN Korean BBQ House
The NBA Finals: A Location Intelligence Perspective
Moving the Market: The Impact of Domestic Migration on Housing Costs
Post-Pandemic Museum Update
The Darden-est Things
The Enduring Demand for Urban and Suburban Retail
Leveraging Data to Evaluate the Impact of Municipal Investments
Trader Joe's Success Amidst Food Inflation and Changing Consumer Behavior
Placer.ai Office Index: May 2023 Recap
Fitness at its Fittest: Staying Strong in 2023
Movie Theaters, Off-Price, and Home Improvement: May 2023 Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index - May 2023 Recap
What’s Working for Bath & Body Works?
Why Are Specialty Grocers Thriving in 2023?
The CAVA Craze: A Location Intelligence Perspective on the Mediterranean Marvel
How Will Primark’s US Expansion Impact Target?
All Eyes on Eyewear
Northwestern U.S. Grocery Dive
Return of the Lunch: Salad Chains Are Thriving
Retail Media Networks – Off the Beaten Track
Bet Your Bottom Dollar: Discount and Dollar Stores Drive Foot Traffic
Ulta & Lululemon: Discretionary Spending On The Up
The Score After Q1: Sporting Goods Chains
Who Uses NYC Airports: Biting Into The Big Apple’s Main Transport Hubs
Off Price: Strength in The Face of Retail Challenges
Visits Improve for Home Improvement
Walmart, Target & Wholesalers in Q1 2023 – The Return of Mission-Driven Shopping?
Department Store Roundup: Q1 2023
Placer.ai Office Index: April 2023 Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index, April 2023 – A Rebound on the Horizon?
How Will Bed Bath & Beyond’s Bankruptcy Impact the Retail Space?
Buffet Restaurants: Filling Up on Foot Traffic
Thrift Stores: Vintage Visits Drive New Age in Apparel
The Windy City: A Hub of Post-Pandemic Opportunity
Diving into Dining Traffic - Q1 2023
Bring On The Joe
A Dollar (or more) For Your Thoughts: Five Below and pOpshelf
Dining Out With The Cheesecake Factory
Retail Foot Traffic Recap – March 2023
Digging Into 2023: McDonald’s and Chipotle Update
Placer.ai Office Index: March 2023 Recap