Piper Sandler Survey ranks Chick-fil-A as a Favorite Among Teens

Which food brands scored well in the Piper Sandler Survey?

In the Piper Sandler survey for the Gen Z age group, Chick-fil-A took the lead and secured the top spot. Other businesses, like Starbucks, Chipotle Mexican Grill, McDonald's, and Olive Garden, which are all well-liked by teenagers nationwide, followed the food giant closely. The Darden Brands restaurant, which recently reintroduced its endless pasta deal, was the only full-service establishment to make it to the list.

What helped Chick-fil-A overtake its competitors in the survey?

There are several reasons why Chick-fil-A has been a frontrunner in the American Consumer Index Satisfaction Restaurant Study's annual report for the eighth consecutive year. As the report reveals, the fast food restaurant chain has been testing various drive-thru and delivery strategies, which have made it a favorite not only among Gen Z but also among millennials and Gen X as well. These include mobile-only lanes in over 60 locations with enhanced speed of service as well as autonomous vehicles in several cities for delivery options. As a result, the brand has become an obvious choice for a quick and delicious meal!

What is the Piper Sandler Teens survey?

The Piper Sandler Taking Stock With Teens survey is a semi-annual research project that focuses on teens in the United States to gather insights on Gen Z's spending patterns, fashion and technology trends, and media preferences. The survey relies on input from 14,500 teens with an average age of 15.8 years. The project started in 2001, and since its inception, Piper Sandler has surveyed more than 233,400 teens and amassed over 56.5 million data points on teen spending.

What are the key findings of the Piper Sandler Teens survey?

The leading investment bank's 44th semi-annual survey, conducted in collaboration with DECA, produced some key insights into the discretionary spending trends and brand preferences of teens across 47 states in the US. The survey, which was conducted between August and September this year, received the most responses from the South (41%), followed by the Midwest (32%), and the West (20%). The fewest number of responses were received from the Northeast, with a mere 7%. The survey largely saw a shift towards discount retailers among upper-income teens. Other findings are discussed below.

1. Secondhand shopping

One of the most important findings of this year's semi-annual survey by Piper Sandler was that not all goods purchased by teens are new. Secondhand shopping, it turns out, occupies 7% of the target group's shopping time. The survey also revealed that 47% of teens have purchased secondhand items, while 58% have sold goods in the secondhand market.

2. Females led the spending trend

Females led the growth in spending, with all females spending 10% more year over year, led by clothing at 10% and footwear at 7%, according to the survey, which included a large number of teens from across the United States.

3. Skincare is the biggest beauty category

For females, cosmetics and haircare were followed by clothing and footwear. The percentage of teens who reported wearing makeup on a daily basis also increased to 41% from 33%. The brand e.l.f. maintained its top position in this category, gaining 500 basis points in share Y/Y to 16% of female teens.

4. Chicken is the favored meat

It is no surprise that 18% of the respondents chose chicken as their favorite meat. This also explains Fast Food giant Chick-Fil-A grabbing the top spot as a dining destination for teens. Other Restaurant Chains that did well in the survey include Starbucks, which followed closely at 17%, while Chipotle stood at number 3 with 13%. McDonald's and Olive Garden too managed to clinch top spots.

TikTok rose to the number one spot among social media platforms with a 38% share. Snapchat followed at number two with 30%, while Instagram, an incredibly popular platform, took the third spot with a 20% vote share.

6. Upper income, lower prices

The Piper Sandler Teens survey showed that upper-income males in the age group spent the most on food (23% share), while female teens spent most on clothing (30%, the highest share since 2012). Both, however, prefer discount shopping, irrespective of what they may be buying.

Which food brands scored well in the Piper Sandler Survey?

What helped Chick-fil-A overtake its competitors in the survey?

What is the Piper Sandler Teens survey?

What are the key findings of the Piper Sandler Teens survey?

1. Secondhand shopping

3. Skincare is the biggest beauty category

4. Chicken is the favored meat

Piper Sandler Survey ranks Chick-fil-A as a Favorite Among Teens

Which food brands scored well in the Piper Sandler Survey?

What helped Chick-fil-A overtake its competitors in the survey?

What is the Piper Sandler Teens survey?

What are the key findings of the Piper Sandler Teens survey?

1. Secondhand shopping

2. Females led the spending trend

3. Skincare is the biggest beauty category

4. Chicken is the favored meat

6. Upper income, lower prices

EDITORS' PICKS

Franchise Frenzy: Cross-Border Growth

McDonald’s Six-Drink Debut Elevates McCafé

The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Coffee Shop Business Plan

Best Marketing Strategies to Scale Your Restaurant Business

Seasonal Frenzy Reshapes Fast-Casual

Frost Leads Chick-fil-A Growth

Ghost Pepper Fever Shapes Fall Menu Marketing

CAVA Bets on Flavor and Loyalty

Applebee’s Pick 6 Mondays: Football-Driven Promo

Shake Shack's New Pace of Growth

Piper Sandler Survey ranks Chick-fil-A as a Favorite Among Teens

Which food brands scored well in the Piper Sandler Survey?

What helped Chick-fil-A overtake its competitors in the survey?

What is the Piper Sandler Teens survey?

What are the key findings of the Piper Sandler Teens survey?

1. Secondhand shopping

2. Females led the spending trend

3. Skincare is the biggest beauty category

4. Chicken is the favored meat

6. Upper income, lower prices

Piper Sandler Survey ranks Chick-fil-A as a Favorite Among Teens

Which food brands scored well in the Piper Sandler Survey?

What helped Chick-fil-A overtake its competitors in the survey?

What is the Piper Sandler Teens survey?

What are the key findings of the Piper Sandler Teens survey?

1. Secondhand shopping

2. Females led the spending trend

3. Skincare is the biggest beauty category

4. Chicken is the favored meat

5. TikTok rules social media

6. Upper income, lower prices

EDITORS' PICKS

Franchise Frenzy: Cross-Border Growth

McDonald’s Six-Drink Debut Elevates McCafé

The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Coffee Shop Business Plan

Best Marketing Strategies to Scale Your Restaurant Business

Seasonal Frenzy Reshapes Fast-Casual

Frost Leads Chick-fil-A Growth

Ghost Pepper Fever Shapes Fall Menu Marketing

CAVA Bets on Flavor and Loyalty

Applebee’s Pick 6 Mondays: Football-Driven Promo

Shake Shack's New Pace of Growth

Piper Sandler Survey ranks Chick-fil-A as a Favorite Among Teens

Which food brands scored well in the Piper Sandler Survey?

What helped Chick-fil-A overtake its competitors in the survey?

What is the Piper Sandler Teens survey?

What are the key findings of the Piper Sandler Teens survey?

1. Secondhand shopping

2. Females led the spending trend

3. Skincare is the biggest beauty category

4. Chicken is the favored meat

5. TikTok rules social media

6. Upper income, lower prices