Survey Reveals Americans' Territorial Fry Habits Checkers & Rally's commissioned a Harris Poll survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults that uncovered decidedly protective attitudes toward French fries. The findings show 60% of Americans admit they've ordered an extra order of fries simply because they didn't want to share. The survey also found that 82% chose a fast-food restaurant specifically because they were craving its fries, while 63% say the quality of the fries is extremely or very important when deciding which fast-food restaurant to eat at.

## What Makes Fries Worth Fighting Over Americans have clear standards for what separates mediocre fries from exceptional ones. According to the audit: - 75% of Americans say crispiness is extremely or very important when it comes to great French fries
- 27% say crispiness is the quality most often missing when they order fries at a fast-food restaurant
- 72% believe serving soggy fries should be considered a food crime "Our National Fry Audit proves Americans don't mess around when it comes to fries," said Scott Johnson, Chief Marketing Officer of Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. "People aren't settling for just any fries – they want them hot, crispy and packed with bold flavor. That's exactly why our Famous Seasoned Fries have earned such a loyal following. For us, National French Fry Day is all about celebrating the fans who have made our fries legendary."

Generational Fry Preferences Differ Sharply The audit revealed distinct age-based preferences.

Boomers (ages 62-80) and Gen X (ages 46-61) are more likely than younger generations to prioritize hot fries—92% and 91% respectively versus 84% for Millennials and 79% for Gen Z. Conversely, Millennials (64%) and Gen Z (61%) are significantly more likely than Gen X (53%) and Boomers (28%) to say bold seasoning flavor is extremely or very important.

## Promotion Marks National French Fry Day Checkers & Rally's is celebrating with a three-day promotion July 10-12: - Buy One, Get One FREE Famous Seasoned Fries of any size (excluding Loaded Fries)
- $1 Sauce Trio, featuring Secret Sauce, Ranch and Honey Mustard The chain also announced it is officially moving National French Fry Day to always fall on a Friday.

Why It Matters

The survey underscores that fries have evolved beyond commodity side dish to a primary purchase driver for quick-service restaurants. With three-quarters of consumers prioritizing crispiness and more than one in four citing it as frequently missing from competitors' offerings, operators have a clear opportunity to differentiate through quality execution on a fundamental menu item.

For more insights and trends in the food and beverage sector, check out more articles in The Food & Beverage Magazine family of publications.

Written by FBM Publications Editors