Fast food restaurants are betting on drive-thru experiences post-pandemic. YPulse told you how brands doubled down on drive-thrus during COVID-19, and it looks like the trend isn’t going anywhere. More than 110,000 U.S. restaurants closed in 2020, while drive-thru visits increased by 26% according to NPD Group. McDonald’s (a.k.a. the OG drive-thru) has responded to the shift by increasing digital and drive-thru spending to improve its ordering process, and now Sweetgreen and Shake Shack are merging their digital apps with the drive-thru experience. Auntie Anne’s just opened its first drive-thru in Texas (setting off a rush of young consumers begging for more locations), while Chipotle’s “Chipotlane,” which launched before the pandemic, has been driving the brand’s digital sales at its 26+ “Chipotlane” locations (digital orders accounted for 46% of Chipotle’s sales in 2020). While it’s still too early to tell what exactly the future of drive-thru holds, it’s clear that the experience is becoming a vital element of some fast casual chains’ sales. (Modern Retail)
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