PAR Technology Releases 2026 QSR Operational Index Report Highlighting Loyalty, Digital Channels, and Revenue Trends Across U.S.

New data shows loyalty members now outspend anonymous guests, kiosk emerges as the fastest-growing ordering channel at
35% year-over-year, and delivery drives check premiums of up to 78%

NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. (April 21, 2026) – PAR Technology Corporation (NYSE: PAR), a leading technology provider powering multi‑unit operators across restaurant, retail, and large-scale commerce, released its 2026 Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Operational Index Report, offering a data-driven look at how many of its customer QSR brands are navigating shifting consumer behavior, rising cost pressures, and the growing importance of loyalty-led engagement.

Based on aggregated, anonymized data from more than 30,000 QSR restaurants representing 149 million unique loyalty guests and $26 billion in loyalty sales in 2025, the report provides a clear roadmap for closing the estimated 6.4x* performance gap between the top- and bottom-performing locations of the largest QSR brands.

As inflationary pressure, economic uncertainty, and changing guest expectations continue to impact the industry, the data shows QSR brands are leaning into loyalty, channel optimization, and smarter operational strategies to protect margins and drive growth. Among the key findings from the 2026 QSR Operational Index Report:

Loyalty is now the primary growth engine

• Loyalty transactions grew 28.5% year-over-year while anonymous transactions fell 6.7%. For the first time in years, loyalty members outspend anonymous guests, averaging $15.08 per visit versus $14.82.
• “Super users,” defined as guests with more than 10 visits per year, drive 61% of check-ins and 53% of sales.
• First reward redemption increases visit frequency by up to 38% within 90 days.

Digital channels are reshaping the transaction mix

• Drive-thru holds 51.7% of total sales, while kiosks grew 35% year-over-year and third-party delivery commands the highest average check at $22.73, 61% above the all-channel average.
• Mobile first-party ordering dipped 2.9% in transactions, signaling an opportunity for brands to drive more loyalty-linked digital volume through owned channels.

Dinner and late night are the most valuable revenue windows for brands

• Dinner generates $1 million in net sales per store annually, more than breakfast and lunch combined. Late night adds another $336,000 per store.
• Delivery drives a significant check premium across every daypart, as guests pay more for the convenience: breakfast at +78%, lunch at +61%, dinner at +49%, and late night at +39%.
• Both dayparts are increasingly delivery-driven, with dinner delivery checks averaging $24.76 and late-night checks at $16.43.

“The most successful QSR brands are the ones that connect operational performance with guest engagement,” said Savneet Singh, CEO of PAR Technology. “Our data shows that when loyalty, operational efficiency, and channel strategy are aligned, brands are better equipped to drive revenue while managing rising cost pressures. That insight is exactly what led us to build PAR Intelligence, an agentic AI layer designed to help operators close performance gaps across locations and run their businesses more effectively at scale.”

Turning data into action

The benchmarks in this report reflect what’s already possible and where the gaps remain. To help operators close them, PAR recently launched PAR® Intelligence, a platform-wide agentic AI layer built on two decades of deep vertical deployment, spanning 12 billion annual transactions, 640 million guest profiles, and 150,000 locations. Where most AI tools stop at surfacing insights, PAR Intelligence goes further by executing, helping multi-unit operators scale the learnings from their top stores across their entire portfolio.

Read the full 2026 QSR Operational Index Report at partech.com.

*Based on anonymized data from top QSR brands by total restaurant count.

About the QSR Operational Index Report
The 2026 Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Operational Index Report, published by PAR®, provides insights and trends based on aggregated data from over 30,000 QSR restaurants in the US in 2025. This information is intended for general informational purposes only. PAR does not make representations or warranties of any kind and does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information, text, graphics, links, or other items contained within this report. PAR does not guarantee that you will achieve any specific results and any reliance on the information is strictly at your own risk. In no event will PAR or its affiliates be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever arising out of, or in connection with, the use of or reliance upon this report, including, without limitation, any indirect or consequential loss or damage. The 2026 QSR Operational Index Report shall not be construed as a representation or indication of the operational performance of PAR or its reported financial results.

About PAR Technology

PAR Technology Corporation (NYSE: PAR) delivers an agentic operating platform that enables smarter, more consistent operations for multi‑unit brands across restaurant, retail, and high‑volume commerce. PAR’s platform brings together mission‑critical software—point of sale, digital ordering, loyalty, payments, and back‑office systems—along with hardware and data to orchestrate decisions and workflows across systems, locations, and guest touchpoints in real time. Designed to drive measurable outcomes, PAR helps brands improve efficiency, deliver better experiences, and make every store more profitable. Learn more at partech.com.

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Media Contact: Sydney.schultice@partech.com, 609-238-6663