---
title: "QSR Magazine: 9 Fast Food Trends for 2018"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/11b3606f-1398-4c55-abee-ef3131ec7fd3
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-9-fast-food-trends-for-2018-2704993
category: "QSR"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "QSR"
published: 2017-12-11T18:13:01.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T04:11:15.507Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/2549188470dde6c542aa6b0f99ff02d8668.jpg
---

# QSR Magazine: 9 Fast Food Trends for 2018

**TL;DR:** QSR Magazine highlights nine fast food trends for 2018, including the use of charcoal in menu items. The restaurant industry is expected to be highly competitive in 2018, with consumers prioritizing value when dining out.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2017-12-11. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-9-fast-food-trends-for-2018-2704993).*

## Story

The restaurant industry struggled to experience growth in 2017. And according to a recent article in QSR Magazine, that trend is likely to continue in the new year.

The publication notes that restaurant industry experts are anticipating a highly competitive marketplace in 2018, especially as consumers consider to weigh value before dining out. However, there are ways that brands can cater to their customer base. QSR Magazine highlights nine trends that consumers will be looking for in their fast food chains throughout the new year.

One is the color black—while 2017 was the year of rainbow and unicorn limited time offers, 2018 will instead focus on foods made with charcoal. Another unexpected trend in the new year is contrasting flavors. More and more American consumers are looking for spicy, big flavors.

There are some trends from this year that will continue to be relevant going forward, including balancing health with taste and the importance of the appearance of food on social media.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- QSR Magazine (publication)
- restaurant industry (topic)
- menu items (topic)
- consumer preferences (topic)
- fast food trends (topic)
- competitive marketplace (topic)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-9-fast-food-trends-for-2018-2704993). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/11b3606f-1398-4c55-abee-ef3131ec7fd3).