There’s just no stopping it! Fast food chains are seeping into places—and times of the day—that until recently were mostly fast-food-free zones. The trade publication Nation’s Restaurant News picked up on a trend that’s probably coming to a quickie mart or big-box retailer near you. Subway, Pizza Hut, and McDonald's restaurants have been known to pop up in Target and Walmart stores here and there around the country. Recently, chains like Checkers, Fazoli’s, Pretzel Factory, and Rally’s have also leaped into the fray by opening in “nontraditional” fast food locations — specifically inside Walmart and convenience stores. For fast-food franchises, it’s easier and cheaper to set up and run an operation within another store—and take advantage of the steady stream of customers—rather than build from the ground up. “I’ve got a lot of existing franchisees banging on the door saying, ‘Tell me when the next Walmart opportunity is opening up in my market,’” Jennifer Durham, vice president of franchise development for Checkers and Rally’s, told NRN. “They can take their organization infrastructure and add a unit without too significant a cost.” (MORE: Wendy’s Doubles Down on Dollar Menu) On the flip side, the presence of an on-site restaurant is beneficial for retailers because it provides another reason why shoppers might want to swing by, browse the aisles, linger longer in stores, or just fill up the car with gas. While new fast food locations keep opening, existing restaurants are trying to drum up the most business possible out of every minute of every 24-hour period. To do so, chains are staying open longer hours and giving customers excuses to come in for a bite no matter what the time of day. McDonald’s caught a lot of grief for encouraging franchises to stay open on Christmas—thereby forcing many employees to work on Christmas—but the push was part of a larger one to give hungry customers access to fast food whenever and wherever they want. Many McDonald’s are now open 24/7, and chains have been testing a late-night breakfast option to attract
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