Fast-food fix explosion

Aussie addicts load up on burgers, fries a dozen times a month

FAST food addicts are visiting outlets almost a dozen times a month to get their fix, research suggests.

A survey on our eating preferences has found the number of people repeatedly loading up on burgers, fries or other speedy meals has grown.

Research firm Roy Morgan calculated that more than three million Aussies (15 per cent) report visiting quick service restaurants at least 10 times in an average four weeks.

That was up from 2.5 million (13 per cent) four years ago.

Men were more likely to be heavily hooked than women.

Roy Morgan chief executive Michele Levine said: “Analysing these heavy users of quick service restaurants by generation shows that over a fifth of both Gen Y (born 1976-90) and Gen Z (born 1991-2005) visit quick service restaurants at least 10 times in an average four weeks compared to just under 15 per cent of Gen X (born 1961-75) and only 7 per cent of Baby Boomers (born 1946-60).

Overall, almost three in five respondents (58 per cent) said they indulged at some stage in an average month.

The insights were based on a survey of more than 15,000 people.

The research also shows Chinese food remains our most popular international cuisine, with 70 per cent of Aussies liking it. Italian was next favourite (62 per cent), followed by Thai (58 per cent) and Indian (51 per cent).

Ms Levine said Australians were increasingly open to a broad range cuisines.

There had been particularly strong increases for Japanese, Indian, Middle Eastern and Mexican preferences, she said.

Older Australians had the strongest appetite for Chinese food, while younger generations were most enthusiastic about Italian and Mexican.

Despite a proliferation of new players such as Guzman Y of international Gomez, Mad Mex, Noodle Box and Shuji Sushi catering to expanding tastes, McDonald’s and KFC were standout favourite chains.

Almost a third of Aussies aged 14-plus said they visited Macca’s in an average fourweek period, while almost one in four dropped in at KFC.

More than a fifth went to fish and chip shops, while just under a fifth grabbed Asian.