Time-strapped youth turning to fast food in bigger numbers

Time-strapped youth turning to fast food in bigger numbers

Young Australians are now spending more than a third of their weekly budget on fast food, a recent study has found.

It’s believed the lifestyle Holy Grail of Milennials – convenience – is the driving force behind the rise.

According to research from insurance firm Noble Oak, Australians aged between 18 and 34 now spend 38 percent of their weekly food budget on fast food. The spend across all age groups sits at just under a third, at 32 percent, up from 25 percent in 1988.

Experts quoted in the research, attributed the significant increase to greater time constraints in the lives of young people. In short, they are working more hours and enduring longer commutes than their predecessors from three decades ago.

Couple this with an explosion of technology-aided delivery services like Uber Eats and Deliveroo, and you have the recipe for a perfect fast food storm. Whereas a generation ago the fast food industry was only synonymous with pizzas, burgers and Chinese, there are now dozens of cuisines that can be ordered quickly and thriftly, making the category an even more attractive option.

Commentators have noted that outlets that can strike a balance between healthier options and convenience will experience the best returns as consumers are more conscious of nutrition.