Industry Analysis Chipotle
Industry Analysis
Overview of the Quick Service Industry
The fast food, or quick service restaurant industry (QSR), represents approximately 200,000 restaurants and $155 billion in sales in the U.S. alone, they are one of the largest segments of the food industry (Hoovers, 2011). This segment of the restaurant industry is “highly competitive and fragmented… number, size and strength of competitors vary by region, market and even restaurant. All of these restaurants compete based on a number of factors, including taste, quality, speed of service, price and value, name recognition, restaurant location, customer service and the ambience and condition of each restaurant” (Chipotle, 2010).
The QSR industry is seeing growth due to the fact that today’s society is more strapped for time than ever. According to the American Sociological Review, “more than 50% of American families are dual earner household…multitasking allows parents to accomplish more within a limited amount of time” (Offer & Schneider, 2011). However, with both heads of the house working part-time or full time jobs people have less time to prepare meals and QSRs offer another way for these families to multitask and save time. In 2011 the QRS industry saw stock values beat the overall restaurant market. Bloomberg U.S. Quick-Service Restaurant Index, gained 13.5 percent while the full service restaurant index dropped by 1 percent (Wolf, 2012).
Competitive Analysis Force | Strategic Impact | Entry | Low | Rivalry | High | Substitutions | High | Power of Buyers | High | Power of Suppliers | Moderate |
New Entrant Threat
While entry into the quick service industry has low barriers (Cambrian Group, 2011) it is highly competitive and has high saturation. Only 40-50% of new entrants will survive their first year and see profits (Paiz et. al., 2011 p.4). While many of players in the QSR industry are franchises, approximately 300,000 (Franchise Direct), Chipotle operates differently.
Overview of the Quick Service Industry
The fast food, or quick service restaurant industry (QSR), represents approximately 200,000 restaurants and $155 billion in sales in the U.S. alone, they are one of the largest segments of the food industry (Hoovers, 2011). This segment of the restaurant industry is “highly competitive and fragmented… number, size and strength of competitors vary by region, market and even restaurant. All of these restaurants compete based on a number of factors, including taste, quality, speed of service, price and value, name recognition, restaurant location, customer service and the ambience and condition of each restaurant” (Chipotle, 2010).
The QSR industry is seeing growth due to the fact that today’s society is more strapped for time than ever. According to the American Sociological Review, “more than 50% of American families are dual earner household…multitasking allows parents to accomplish more within a limited amount of time” (Offer & Schneider, 2011). However, with both heads of the house working part-time or full time jobs people have less time to prepare meals and QSRs offer another way for these families to multitask and save time. In 2011 the QRS industry saw stock values beat the overall restaurant market. Bloomberg U.S. Quick-Service Restaurant Index, gained 13.5 percent while the full service restaurant index dropped by 1 percent (Wolf, 2012).
Competitive Analysis Force | Strategic Impact | Entry | Low | Rivalry | High | Substitutions | High | Power of Buyers | High | Power of Suppliers | Moderate |
New Entrant Threat
While entry into the quick service industry has low barriers (Cambrian Group, 2011) it is highly competitive and has high saturation. Only 40-50% of new entrants will survive their first year and see profits (Paiz et. al., 2011 p.4). While many of players in the QSR industry are franchises, approximately 300,000 (Franchise Direct), Chipotle operates differently.