Loyalty transactions surge 28% as QSR habits shift; kiosks rising in popularity

PAR Technology Corporation released its 2026 Quick Service Restaurant Operational Index Report on Tuesday, revealing that loyalty program members are now outspending anonymous guests as digital ordering channels see rapid growth, according to a press release.

The report, based on data from more than 30,000 restaurants and $26 billion in loyalty sales from 2025, found that loyalty transactions grew 28.5% year-over-year while anonymous transactions fell 6.7%. Loyalty members averaged $15.08 per visit compared to $14.82 for anonymous guests.

Digital kiosks emerged as the fastest-growing ordering channel, increasing 35% year-over-year. The data also showed that delivery continues to drive significant check premiums, with breakfast delivery orders costing 78% more than the all-channel average.

"The most successful QSR brands are the ones that connect operational performance with guest engagement," Savneet Singh, CEO of PAR Technology, said in the press release. "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."

According to the report, dinner remains the most valuable revenue window for brands, generating $1 million in net sales per store annually. Late-night service adds an average of $336,000 per store.

The findings coincide with the launch of PAR Intelligence, an AI platform designed to help multi-unit operators scale the performance of their top-performing locations across their entire portfolio. The platform utilizes data from approximately 150,000 locations and 640 million guest profiles.