Thanks for Visiting!

Register for free to get the full story.

Sign Up
Already have a Placer.ai account? Log In
Dining

Burger Bliss: Shake Shack and In-N-Out Stacking Visits

We explore the foot traffic metrics to popular burger chains Shake Shack and In-N-Out to see what is driving visits.

By 
Ezra Carmel
July 24, 2023
Burger Bliss: Shake Shack and In-N-Out Stacking Visits
SHARE
Explore our free tools to get timely insights into key industries
Check out the latest trends for
No items found.
Key Takeaways

In recent months, increased appetite for value eats has helped fast food and fast casual restaurants win the stomachs of budget-conscious consumers. And two popular burger joints with cult followings – fast casual favorite Shake Shack and fast food phenom In-N-Out Burger – drive some of the highest foot traffic numbers in their respective dining categories. We dove into the data for a closer look at how these all-American eateries are staying as hot as their patties and continue to serve up fresh visits. 

Burgers and Fries, On the Rise

Shake Shack and In-N-Out’s success is at least partially driven by their individual expansion strategies. For a number of years, In-N-Out has been growing in new markets while Shake Shack continues to open restaurants in a variety of formats and locations – from drive-thrus to airports. 

Since November 2022, In-N-Out and Shake Shack’s year-over-year (YoY) visits have outperformed the fast casual and fast food & QSR categories. In June 2023, Shake Shack and In-N-Out had 14.2% and 12.4% YoY visit growth, respectively, well ahead of YoY visits for the fast casual (4.8%) and fast food & QSR (2.6%) categories overall. 

And both brands’ succeeded in generating significant visit growth despite the current inflationary climate that has curbed consumer spending in many retail categories. This suggests that consumers continue to turn to fast food and fast casual chains for relatively cheap eats as high food inflation persists.

Interstate Burger and Shake

Analysis of the demographic characteristics of the chains’ visitors nationwide – and in states where both chains have a significant presence – provides insight into the brands’ target audiences. The data appears to indicate that Shake Shack drives traffic from more affluent consumers while In-N-Out’s visitors are more likely to be of near-average income. 

According to the STI: Popstats dataset, in H1 2023, the median household income (HHI) of visitors to Shake Shack in New York – its home state and largest market – was 19% higher than the NY state average. This was consistent with the median HHI of the chain’s visitors in California and Texas – the brand’s second and third largest markets – which were 18% and 24% higher than the average income in the state, respectively. 

In H1 2023, In-N-Out also attracted a distinct consumer demographic. In California – In-N-Out’s legacy and largest market – the median HHI of visitors was on par with the state average. And in Texas – the state with the second-most In-N-Out locations – the median HHI of visitors was just 10% above the state average. 

In multiple regions – and nationwide – Shake Shack appealed to diners that earn above average while In-N-Out’s visitors tended to earn closer to average. This pattern suggests that as the brands expand, they could find the most success in areas where the median HHI of consumers is relatively similar to their established markets. 

To-Go Bites

Location intelligence reveals that the winning combination of burgers, fries, and shakes maintains its prevalence in the American dining landscape. And consumers hungry for affordable meals find that burger chains like In-N-Out and Shake Shack hit the spot. That said, the two chains drive the bulk of their traffic from visitors of different income levels, indicating that demand for the burger and shake fix isn’t limited to one type of consumer.

Looking ahead, both chains are continuing to expand their footprints in order to reach more diners. In-N-Out’s announcement of a future Tennessee headquarters paves the way for locations in the Volunteer State and adjacent regions while Shake Shack’s rate of expansion makes it one of the fastest-growing dining chains. 

‍For updates and more data-driven foot traffic insights, visit Placer.ai.


Learn how downtown regions across US cities are measuring up with our free tools.
Check out the latest trends for
No items found.
Explore our free tools to get timely insights into key industries
Check out the latest trends for
No items found.
SHARE
Get 3 brand & industry
breakdowns every week
Subscribe to the newsletter
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Get a Demo

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please provide a valid email
Please enter your email
Please enter company name

Thanks for reaching out!

One of our experts will be in touch soon

Try Placer.ai Free
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Recent Publications

Get 3 brand & industry breakdowns every week

Subscribe to the newsletter
Text Link
In-N-Out
Text Link
Shake Shack
Five Below and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet: A Pre-Holiday Snapshot
Kroger: Getting into The Seasonal Swing 
Avison Young Launches Office Busyness Index Powered by Placer.ai to Provide Unmatched Insights on Office Utilization Across Major U.S. Markets
Off-Price Ahead of the 2024 Holiday Season
A Beautiful Season Ahead: Ulta and Sally Beauty Supply
Sportswear Ahead of the 2024 Holiday Season 
Placer 100 Index: October 2024 Recap 
Placer.ai Office Index: October 2024 Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index: October 2024 Recap 
Halloween’s 2024 Retail & Dining Impact – Party City Carries the Season
Checking in With Department Stores: Nordstrom and Macy’s
Superstores and Wholesale Clubs Ahead of the Holidays
Home Depot and Lowe’s Heading Into the Holidays
Starbucks and Dutch Bros: Short Visits Lead the Way
Planet Fitness: Raising the Bar(bell)
Checking in With Full-Service Restaurants: First Watch, Chili’s, and Outback Steakhouse
RBI and Yum!: QSR Resilience in 2024
Boot Barn and DSW: Stepping Up Their Game
Target’s October Circle Week: A Data-Driven Snapshot
Chipotle, Shake Shack & Wingstop: Dining Success in Q3 2024
Playa Bowls and Tropical Smoothie Cafe: Berry Big Business
Cheesecake Factory & BJ’s Restaurants: Full-Service Success
Checking in on McDonald's and Wendy's 
Sprouts Farmers Market: A Specialty Grocer With a Traditional Twist
CAVA: The Craze Continues
Placer.ai Reaches $100M Annual Recurring Revenue
Catching Up With Carter's 
A Texas Roadhouse and LongHorn Steakhouse Showdown
Placer.ai Mall Index: September 2024 Recap – Labor Day Peaks and Holiday Season Predictions
Albertsons Q3 Check-In
Looking Ahead to the 2024 Holiday Season
Trader Joe's: Continuing to Thrive in 2024
Bowlero and AMF: A Ten-Pin Knockout
Recreational Retail: Store Performance in 2024
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – September 2024
A QSR and Fast-Casual Face-Off
Sam’s Club’s In-Store Retail Media Network Opportunity
The Rising Stars: Six Metro Areas Welcoming Young Professionals
Costco in 2024: A Deep Dive
Sherwin-Williams in 2024: Brighter Than a New Lick of Paint
Life Time and Orangetheory: Premium Fitness Flourishing
C-Stores: More Than A Pit Stop
Darden: Dining Dominance Undeterred 
Placer 100 Index for Retail and Dining: August 2024 Recap
Placer.ai Office Index: August 2024 Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index: August 2024 Recap – Back-To-School In Full Swing
Auto Parts Retailers: The Traffic Continues
Pumpkin Spice Works its Magic Once Again
School Season Sparks Retail Growth
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – July & August 2024
Big Lots’ Big Rightsizing Move in Four Data Points
Fun Away From The Sun: Checking in With Eatertainment
Domestic Migration and Population Growth: Strong Currents Off The Carolina Coast
The Civic Impact of Summer Events
Retail Trends in College Towns: A Back-to-School Snapshot
Five Below and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet: Consumers Still on the Hunt for Discounts
Macy’s & Bloomingdale’s: Into 2024 and Beyond
Limited Time Only: The Trend Continues
Beauty in 2024: Many Ways to Win
Dollar General & Dollar Tree: Powering Ahead in Q2 2024
The Home Depot and Lowe's Foot Traffic Remodel in Q2 2024
Superstore Update: Summer Savings Spree
Placer.ai Mall Index: July 2024 Recap – From Fourth of July to Back-to-School
Placer.ai Office Index: July 2024 Recap
Summer Movie Madness: Blockbuster Films Boost Foot Traffic
Driving Success: Toyota in 2024
Denny’s and IHOP: An All-Day Breakfast Matchup
Warby Parker: Seeing Clearly Now
Planet Fitness at the 2024 Halfway Point
Serving Summer 2024: RBI and Yum! Brands Q2 Foot Traffic
Starbucks, Dutch Bros., Dunkin’: Finding Summer Success
Fast Food and Fast Casual Favorites, Plus CosMc’s Takeoff
Chipotle and Sweetgreen: Fast-Casual in Q2 2024
First Watch, Texas Roadhouse, and Applebee’s: An FSR Roundup
Albertsons Companies: H1 2024 Recap
Teaming Up For Success: Sports Stadium Sponsorships
Limited Time Offers: Price Wars Boost Visits
Placer 100 Index for Retail & Dining: June 2024 Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index: June 2024 Recap
Placer.ai Office Index: June 2024 Recap
Inside Out 2: The New Blockbuster Bringing Crowds Back to Theaters
Petco and PetSmart: A Head to Head
Frozen Delights: Exploring Ice Cream Chains Across America
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – June 2024
Barnes & Noble: Writing a New Story
Small Format Stores - Sprouting, Blooming, and Expanding
Retail and Dining on Father’s Day
Thrift Store Visit Scores
Charting Value Grocery’s Visit Growth
Placer 100 Index for Retail & Dining: Introduction and May 2024 Recap
Digging Into Darden: Q2 2024 Update
2024 Retail and Dining Trends Update
TRU and avid: Midscale Hotels on the Rise 
Diving Into Kroger: A Strong Start to 2024
Placer.ai Mall Index: May 2024 Recap – Mall Visits on the Rebound
Placer.ai Office Index: May 2024 Recap
2024 Memorial Day Recap
Las Vegas: A Tourism and Migration Deep Dive
Eatertainment Chains: Full on Food, Fun, and Foot Traffic
The Promise of Luxury Apparel