nual system wide sales growthand change in number of operating units.Source:Nation's Restaurant News ResearchTable 2 on Page 5 illustrates the ranking of pizza chains by sales per unit for fiscal years ending 1998, 1997 and 1996. This ranking alters the position of the four power players, due to sales being spread over more system-wide units for the major players, versus the smaller chains who did not have as many units.THE BIRTH AND GROWTH OF THE FAST FOOD INDUSTRYWhat caused the change that resulted in a shift from "at-home food" to "fast food" consumption? One factor is attributed to the birth rate in the late 1960's and early 1970's when more women sought professional careers during their childbearing years. Another factor was the presence of Ray Kroc, the man who deserves the most credit or blame for transforming the eating habits of Americans.This trend in eating patterns is illustrated below in Table 3.Progressive Grocer's, in 1990, made a plausible prediction on "Food Eaten at Home Versus Food Eaten Away from Home" based on a survey and responses, it was concluded " Food eaten away from home would increase 108% from 1970 to Year 2000".TABLE 3TREND OF FOOD CONSUMPTION Numbers in Percent of Food Dollar1970198019882000Food-at-Home76.071.067.050.0Food-away-from Home24.029.033.050.0As indicated by Table 3, the trend did decrease from the category of "Food At Home" and increased for "Food Away from Home" category. Between 1997 and 2002, the number of U. S. households headed by people aged 25 to 44 will decline by 1.7 million to 43 million. By 2008, they will overtake the younger set from 43 million to 40 million, altering the landscape of consumer spending in the 21st Century. As 77 million Americans, aged 35 to 53, move into a new stage of life, it will signal fundamental changes that go far beyond the demand for products and services that appeal to the middle age. At the same time, mature households aged 65 and order will gai...
