Fast Food Chains On The Rise

Bite Back activist Timi is standing in front of fast food chains with a serious facial expression, behind him is Subway, Starbucks and a McDonalds in the distance

Fast food chains are popping up everywhere, flooding our high streets and opening ever closer to local school gates.

The safe spaces and free WiFi they provide entice young people in. While the marketing for food and drinks on their menus is a constant presence in young people’s lives.

We set out to uncover what’s been happening and the impact it’s having on children's health. And the results speak for themselves 👀

Rise of Fast Food Chains

Our latest research has found that fast food chains are on the march. The five on our list — Domino's, Subway, McDonalds, KFC and Burger King — have grown by 47% in the past ten years [1]. This is at a time when a third of children leave primary school facing a future of food-related ill health.

BFC Report Graph

This has big implications for young people’s health. Most of these businesses won’t tell us the facts about what they actually market and sell, but research shows their best-selling items are predominantly unhealthy [2].

“

These places have free WiFi. So especially when I was in Year 10 and 11 and didn’t have a data plan, that’s where I would go. I knew it wouldn’t be too loud, so I could sit there and revise. It was a safe space for me. The shop almost becomes like a friend to you. But then the food on offer is unhealthy — 100%, I feel exploited.

Farid, age 17

Mia's Perspective

Young people are being surrounded by fast food, to the point where Mia has a McDonald’s 30 seconds away from her school. 🤯 Listen to her break it down in the video below.

Surrounding Our Schools

Mia’s school isn’t alone! We looked at the big food chains that appeal most to young people — that’s the five fast food chains mentioned above, plus Starbucks, Costa, Nando’s, Greggs and Pret — and how they have grown near schools. Get ready — it’s shocking!

Today, there’s 3,411 schools that have a big food chain within 400m of their gates — that’s about a 5 minute walk. This has increased by nearly 1,000 schools compared to 2014! It’s no wonder young people feel like they’re being surrounded.

What About Where You Live?

What does this mean in real time? Well, if you live in, say, Knowsley — an area on the outskirts of Liverpool, that experiences one of the highest levels of deprivation in the country — then the number of fast food outlets has DOUBLED in the last ten years, from 9 in 2014, to 18 today.

The numbers are pretty staggering all across the country. Wondering how your area compares? Pop your postcode (or your local school’s postcode) in below to find out how much your area has been taken over by fast food 🤯 The results may surprise you.

Find Out If Fast Food Chains Have Grown In Your Community

[1] Data from Ordnance Survey and analysed in collaboration with the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge. Read more in our report: Big food and our communities: Where are food chains expanding? Full Report, At A Glance Report

[2] Action on Salt, Action on Sugar (2024) Healthiness assessment in the UK out-of-home sector