---
title: "Restaurant Franchises Have Found One Ingredient That Makes Customers Switch Brands. New Data Proves It Works."
url: https://burnaze.com/article/27242f80-09fd-4d91-9be5-0cd8faea13f0
source: "Entrepreneur Franchise"
original_url: https://www.entrepreneur.com/buying-a-franchise/every-major-quick-service-franchise-is-adding-protein
author: "Jonathan Small"
category: "Restaurants"
industry: "Restaurants"
published: 2026-06-25T13:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T13:16:32.822Z
image: https://www.entrepreneur.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/restaurant-franchises-customer-minds-0626_g2032134542.jpg
---

# Restaurant Franchises Have Found One Ingredient That Makes Customers Switch Brands. New Data Proves It Works.

**TL;DR:** New consumer data shows nearly half of diners would switch restaurant brands for high-protein options, prompting chains like McDonald's and Arby's to update their menus. McDonald's, Arby's, and Zaxby's are adding high-protein options to their menus in response to growing demand.

*By Jonathan Small, originally published in Entrepreneur Franchise on 2026-06-25. [Read the original](https://www.entrepreneur.com/buying-a-franchise/every-major-quick-service-franchise-is-adding-protein).*

## Story

McDonald’s, Arby’s and Zaxbys are all piling on the protein in a market where customers just can’t get enough.

The protein-maxxing craze that’s reshaping restaurant menus has crossed a line from marketing fad to genuine business opportunity. New consumer data shows nearly half of diners say they would switch restaurant franchises just to get meals with more protein, according to a Revenue Management Solutions survey reported by Restaurant Business.

The same survey found 62% of consumers actively look for high-protein options, 58% are likely to order from a “protein-rich” menu section and roughly 40% will fork over more money for it. As one RMS executive put it, protein and fiber “aren’t trends anymore, they’re traffic drivers.”

The momentum hasn’t slowed. McDonald’s now badges every item over 15 grams. Arby’s is offering a new Angus Cheesesteak, and Zaxby’s is serving up a limited offering of its Chicken Bacon Ranch lineup. With roughly a quarter of US households now using GLP-1 medications, the demand for protein-forward meals is growing by the day.

## Entities

- QSR (sector)
- menu pricing (topic)
- Entrepreneur (publication)
- McDonald's (company)
- Arby's (company)
- Zaxby's (company)
- restaurant marketing (topic)
- Jonathan Small (person)
- consumer demand (topic)
- Revenue Management Solutions (company)
- protein trend (topic)

---
Originally reported by Jonathan Small, Entrepreneur Franchise (https://www.entrepreneur.com/buying-a-franchise/every-major-quick-service-franchise-is-adding-protein). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/27242f80-09fd-4d91-9be5-0cd8faea13f0).