The UK’s biggest fast-food and food-to-go chains have significantly increased the number of outlets situated near to schools during the past ten years prompting calls for greater government restrictions on new openings.
Youth activist charity, Bite Back, analysed the store footprints and growth of the top 10 out of home businesses with greatest appeal to young people as identified by Bite Back Youth Board members – Burger King, Starbucks, Domino’s, KFC, McDonald’s, Pret, Subway, Greggs, Nandos and Costa Coffee.
It found that in 2024, 14.2% of schools in Great Britain had at least one outlet of the top 10 situated within 400m, up from 10.3% in 2014.
Each of the top 10 businesses has opened more outlets close to schools during the past decade, according to Bite Back, with five out of the 10 – Domino’s, Pret A Manger, Subway, Greggs and KFC –estimated to have at least half of their outlets close to schools.
The analysis also showed five out of the top 10 – Subway, Greggs, McDonald’s, KFC and Pret – have a higher density of outlets in the most deprived areas compared to least deprived.
Bite Back cited research showing that food purchased out of home is higher in calories compared to similar food products purchased from retailers and manufacturers, yet it noted the sector has not been subject to the same level of scrutiny or regulation as retailers and manufacturers.
It said out of home outlets are increasingly functioning as a ‘third space’ for young people – somewhere outside of home or school where they can connect with friends and hang out – with implications for their health.
Growth in food-to-go outlets around schools reflects broader sector growth. Each of the top 10 has increased their total number of outlets over the past decade, with growth ranging from 16% (McDonald’s) to 93% (Starbucks). Specifically, the five fast-food chains – Burger King, Domino’s, KFC, McDonald’s and Subway – have increased their number of outlets by nearly 50%, the analysis found.
Bite Back called on businesses to take responsibility by shifting sales to healthier products, setting a healthier sales target and publishing transparent reporting on progress every year. They should also phase out marketing of products that are high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS), it said.
The charity urged the government to play its part by mandating businesses to report publicly and consistently on the healthiness of their sales of food and drink, and extending HFSS marketing restrictions to outdoor advertising. It also called for an update to national planning guidance to make health an explicit priority and empower and encourage local authorities to control the food environments in their communities.
Local authorities already have some power to limit the number of fast food openings with the aim of promoting a healthier food environment. Those that have taken action include Gateshead which introduced rules in 2015 effectively banning any new fast-food outlets from opening within its jurisdiction. A recent review of the effectiveness of the measure found that it reduced childhood obesity in areas with the highest concentration of fast-food premises.
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