There are about 4,000 fewer restaurants in the United States this spring than there were last spring, according to Chicago market research firm The NPD Group.
From 1 April, 2008, to 31 March 31, 2009, the total number of U.S. restaurant dropped 1 percent, according to figures the NPD published on Monday.
Of the 20 categories NPD evaluated, only six — major quick-service chains (more than 500 units), major casual-dining chains and midsized casual chains (100 to 499 units), midsized fine-dining chains, minor fine-dining chains (50 to 99 units) and small fine-dining chains (three to 49 units) — experienced growth, ranging from 1 to 6 percent.
The recession hit independent fine-dining the hardest; the number of independent fine-dining restaurants plunged 7 percent from last spring to this spring. Also experiencing significant declines in the number of restaurants were minor family-dining chains (6 percent) and midsized family-dining chains (5 percent).
“It’s clear that independent restaurants and smaller chains have been most impacted by the slower economy,” said Susan Kleutsch, NPD’s director of product development-foodservice. “The recession appears to have weeded out restaurants performing poorly prior to the economic downturn, and this seems most true for independents and smaller chains that are likely having a hard time competing with the resources and marketing power of major chains.”
