Fast food chains drive record QSR growth across Australia

Australia's fast food and quick service restaurant sector added 250 net new stores in 2025, its strongest year of net growth in a decade, according to a new GapMaps report.

The GapMaps 2025 Annual Fast Food & QSR Network Report tracked 36 leading brands across 7,779 locations nationwide. Over the 12 months to the end of December 2025, it recorded 359 openings and 109 closures, the lowest annual closure total in ten years based on the report's historical comparisons.

Mexican quick service brands posted some of the biggest gains. Zambrero recorded net growth of 31 stores, and Guzman y Gomez added 27 net new sites. Both chains opened more than 30 locations during the year.

Mid-sized chicken chains also expanded. Oporto added 17 net new locations, while El Jannah increased by 15 and Nando's grew by 10.

Large multinational brands continued to add outlets, led by KFC with 29 net new stores after closures. McDonald's followed with 25, and Subway added 18.

City rankings

Melbourne overtook Sydney for the first time in GapMaps' reporting history for total QSR locations. Melbourne ended the year with 1,522 stores after a net increase of 60. Sydney finished with 1,507, up 32 net stores.

The report frames the expansion as a sign of resilience in a category facing rising operating costs and intense competition for discretionary spending. GapMaps pointed to a strong pipeline of openings alongside comparatively limited closures.

GapMaps Associate Director, Research & Insights, Toby Wooldridge, said the combination of high opening activity and low closures defined the year.

"The Australian QSR sector has demonstrated remarkable strength in 2025," Wooldridge said. "This was the strongest year of net growth we have recorded, driven by the second-highest number of openings on record and the lowest number of closures in the past decade."

He also highlighted different growth patterns between large chains and faster-moving categories.

"The major brands are expanding in line with population growth, while key segments like Mexican and chicken are showing incredible momentum," Wooldridge said.

Segment shifts

Beyond Mexican and chicken, the report noted growth in sushi. Sushi Hub added 22 net new stores over the year and reached a national footprint of 200 locations, according to GapMaps.

The report tracks openings and closures across a defined set of 36 brands and counts net growth when openings exceed closures over the period. In 2025, the 109 closures sat against a much higher number of openings, described in the report as the second-highest on record.

GapMaps uses location and network data to assess store footprints and local market coverage. It tracks more than 1,500 brands across Australia in multiple sectors, including fast food and QSR.

Data approach

GapMaps works with CommBank iQ on data inputs that include local consumer spending and food delivery activity, providing a view of demand signals alongside physical store presence.

Wooldridge said the dataset helps guide store network decisions.

"Our data provides a clear view of supply and demand, helping brands make data-driven decisions to optimise their store networks and drive strategic growth," he said.

GapMaps said its reporting combines store network tracking with insights on expansion patterns, allowing comparisons of market coverage between cities and identifying categories adding outlets faster than the broader sector.

Founded in 2013, GapMaps operates in several international markets and counts more than 500 brands as users of its location intelligence products, according to the company.

"With insights into expansion patterns, consumer spending, and food delivery data, businesses can confidently identify opportunities in a competitive market," Wooldridge said.