2025 Australia Annual Fast Food & QSR Report
Australia’s QSR Sector Hits Record Growth in 2025
(Inside the GapMaps Fast Food & Quick Service Restaurant Annual Report)
For more than a decade, the GapMaps Fast Food & Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Annual Report has tracked every opening and closure across Australia’s leading brands. Over time, it has become one of the most detailed pictures available of fast-food growth, store network expansion and location strategy across the country.
The 2025 edition, covering the 12 months to 31 December 2025, records 7,779 locations across the top 36 QSR brands nationwide.
During the year there were 359 openings and 109 closures, resulting in a net increase of 250 stores. It is the strongest year of net growth we have recorded. Openings were the second highest on record, behind only 2023’s 407, while closures were the lowest annual total in the past decade.
The geography of 2025 openings
Melbourne and Sydney continue to anchor the national QSR network. Of the 7,779 total locations tracked, 3,029 are in these two cities alone, almost 40% of the national footprint. That is broadly consistent with their combined share of Australia’s population.
The pattern of new openings reflects the same reality. Of the 359 stores opened in 2025, 252 or 70% were in capital cities, with 107 or 30% in regional areas. This closely mirrors where Australians live and where most recent population growth has occurred.
Within Melbourne and Sydney, growth is shifting outward. In Melbourne, 23% of 2025 openings were within 10km of the CBD, down from 31% the year prior. In Sydney, the share fell from 41% to 30%. Expansion is increasingly focused on outer suburban growth corridors where new housing and household formation are strongest.
The Big Three continue to lift accessibility
Subway, McDonald’s and KFC each opened 25 or more stores in 2025, reinforcing their position as the key anchors of the Australian QSR market.
Strong population growth has expanded the customer base for fast food, while food and beverage spending has remained resilient as a share of household expenditure. To maintain provision at roughly one store per 20,000 to 30,000 residents, major chains typically need to add around 20 or more net new stores nationally each year.
In 2025, each brand met or exceeded that benchmark and slightly increased its share of the Australian population living within 3km of a store compared with 2024, further strengthening accessibility as new suburbs continue to develop.
Mexican QSR accelerates
Mexican QSR remains one of the fastest growing segments nationally. Zambrero and Guzman y Gomez each recorded 30 or more openings in 2025 and are moving steadily toward the 300 store milestone.
The category now sits firmly within the mainstream fast food landscape. Broad demographic appeal, adaptable store formats and strong performance in both suburban and high traffic retail locations have supported their sustained expansion.
Chicken and sushi build scale
Mid-sized chicken brands also expanded their footprint in 2025. Oporto added 22 stores, El Jannah 15 and Nando’s 11, continuing their steady growth across multiple states.
The sushi segment recorded growth across all five tracked brands. Sushi Hub led with 22 new stores, reaching 200 locations nationally and opening in every state during the year. The total number of sushi locations tracked now stands at 485 nationwide, highlighting the strength of small format and kiosk concepts in shopping centres and high traffic precincts.
Across these categories, the common theme is disciplined expansion. Brands are using detailed location analytics, demographic insight and spending data to guide site selection rather than relying on opportunistic deals.
Melbourne vs Sydney
In the long running Melbourne versus Sydney rivalry, Melbourne edged ahead in 2025. Melbourne closed the year with 1,522 QSR locations, a net increase of 60. Sydney finished with 1,507 locations, up 32 net openings.
The margin is narrow. Sydney remains the larger city by population, but Melbourne currently holds the lead in total store numbers.
What the data shows
Several themes stand out at a national level:
- Store growth remains robust despite economic headwinds
- Closures are historically low
- Expansion is increasingly data led and catchment focused
- Outer metropolitan growth corridors are driving new supply
For developers, landlords and investors, QSR remains one of the most active retail categories in the market.
The GapMaps advantage
GapMaps tracks more than 1,500 retail and hospitality brands across Australia, providing live insight into store networks, clustering patterns and expansion activity.
Through our partnership with CommBank iQ, we incorporate local consumer spending and food delivery data to provide a clear view of supply and demand at a catchment level.
This combination of store location data, demographics and real consumer spending helps brands identify white space, benchmark performance, optimise coverage and support property decisions.
The 2025 Annual QSR Report confirms that Australia’s quick service restaurant sector remains competitive, resilient and growth oriented. The brands that continue to win will be those that pair operational strength with disciplined, data informed location strategy. This is where GapMaps helps brands grow with confidence.
