Fast Food Burger Shops in Australia: Market Size, Businesses & Forecast 2026

The Fast Food Burger Shops industry in Australia, a prominent segment of the broader takeaway food services sector, specializes in the rapid preparation and sale of hamburgers and related sides for immediate off-premises or on-premises consumption. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the overall Accommodation and Food Services division recorded a 1.2% year-on-year increase in the number of operating businesses for the 2024-25 financial year (source: ABS Counts of Australian Businesses 2021-2025), driven by steady consumer demand. Major operators continue to expand local footprints, with leading private group Competitive Foods Australia reporting Hungry Jack's system sales

Industry snapshot

Key public data points

Historical & forecast

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What does the Fast Food Burger Shops in Australia industry cover?

This industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in preparing and serving hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, and closely associated fast-food beverages for immediate consumption either on-site, taken away, or delivered. Under the official Australian industry classification, these businesses are captured within the broader takeaway food services class, which focuses on quick-service culinary formats where customers typically order and pay before eating.

• •Classified under the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) Class 4512, Takeaway Food Services.
• •Includes traditional drive-thru quick-service restaurants, suburban burger bars, food court concessions, and premium gourmet burger dine-in outlets.
• •Excludes full-service sit-down restaurants where table service is provided and payment is processed after dining (ANZSIC Class 4511).

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The market structure exhibits a high level of market concentration among a few dominant multinational and domestic brands, operating alongside a highly fragmented long-tail of independent specialty burger bars. The industry utilizes a mixture of corporately owned flagship stores and extensive franchise networks to scale operations across metropolitan and regional Australia.

• •The small business benchmark data from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) indicates that takeaway food service operators with turnovers exceeding $600,000 face average total expenses representing 89% of annual turnover in 2023-24.
• •Franchisees dominate the operational footprint, relying on centralized corporate supply chains for inventory procurement and national marketing.
• •According to the ATO, average 'cost of sales' for takeaway food services consistently ranges between 35% and 43% of total turnover depending on business size in 2023-24.

What drives demand in the industry?

Consumer demand is heavily driven by lifestyle factors, including time scarcity, convenience, and the rapid adoption of digital ordering infrastructure. Economic pressures, such as shifting cost-of-living indices, also influence demand as consumers trade down from mid-tier table service restaurants to value-oriented fast-food options.

• •Growth in delivery aggregators has expanded the geographic reach of physical stores, converting traditional foot traffic into digital home delivery orders.
• •Population growth and rising household disposable income historically correlate with higher weekly discretionary spending on quick-service meals.
• •According to public dietary and retail insights, younger demographics, specifically Gen Z, spend a disproportionately high share of their discretionary food budget on fast food.

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

Competition in the Australian burger market is fierce, led by massive global brands and supported by strong local chains and premium boutique operators. Key market participants continuously compete on price value, menu innovation, speed of service, and the density of their physical storefront footprint.

• •McDonald's Australia Holdings Pty Limited remains the clear market leader, operating over 1,000 locations nationwide and generating over 2.22 billion Australian dollars in total sales in 2024.
• •Hungry Jack's, operated by parent entity Competitive Foods Australia, is the primary domestic rival with over 470 outlets and 2.365 billion Australian dollars in sales for 2024.
• •Collins Foods Limited (ASX: CKF) is a major publicly listed quick-service operator in Australia, posting total corporate revenue of 1.519 billion Australian dollars in the 2025 financial year.
• •Grill'd Pty Ltd represents the premium, healthy-eating tier of the market, actively expanding its national footprint with large-scale flagship locations.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

The industry is adapting to modern consumer preferences by incorporating plant-based alternatives, gourmet customization, and guilt-free menu options. Simultaneously, operational investments are focused heavily on technological automation, including self-service ordering kiosks, artificial intelligence in drive-thru lanes, and specialized delivery portals.

• •Major chains are rolling out dedicated dual-lane smart drive-thrus and mobile-app-only pick-up bays to maximize vehicle throughput.
• •Menu reformulation is highly prevalent, with brands adding gluten-free, low-carb, and certified halal options to capture diverse consumer demographics.
• •Operators are increasingly exposed to fluctuating agricultural commodity prices for beef, wheat, and canola oil, forcing regular menu price adjustments.

How is the industry regulated?

Burger retail operations are subject to strict public health, food safety, and labor standards enforced at federal, state, and municipal levels. Regulatory scrutiny has increasingly targeted nutrition disclosure, marketing directed at children, and labor compliance under national retail awards.

• •State legislations, such as the NSW Food Act 2003 and equivalent state-level laws, mandate the prominent display of kilojoule content on menus for chains with 20 or more outlets.
• •Employment terms are strictly governed by the Fair Work Ombudsman under the Fast Food Industry Award, which dictates minimum wages, penalty rates, and youth employment conditions.
• •Environmental regulations are forcing a rapid transition away from single-use plastics toward certified compostable or recyclable packaging materials across all Australian states.

Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.

• Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits, July 2021 - June 2025 ·
• Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Takeaway Food Services Small Business Benchmarks 2023-24 ·
• Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006 ·
• Collins Foods Limited Annual Report 2025 ·
• Competitive Foods Australia Corporate Reports & Burgess Rawson Fast Food Industry Insights 2025 ·
• McDonald's Australia Holdings Pty Limited Financial Statements 2024