The QSR TV Ads Actually Driving Foot Traffic

A successful TV ad doesn’t just attract attention, it drives outcomes — and for the QSR industry, that includes actual foot traffic. iSpot recently analyzed the creatives from the most-seen QSR brands in Q1 2025 and discovered that the ads that sparked thirst, humor and value, and often leaned into strong product visuals, delivered the highest foot traffic lift rates. 

• The No. 1 QSR ad by foot traffic lift in Q1 2025 was Starbucks’ “We’re On Summertime: Shake It,” with 340.57% lift. This spot features vibrant close-ups of Starbucks’ various iced drinks, which likely played a part in “thirsty” being the top emotion/reaction from viewers.
• The No. 2 ad, from Chick-fil-A (237.85% lift) took a different approach, harnessing humor-driven storytelling instead of product visuals.  
• Among the top 10 ads, only two were new to market: Wendy’s “Bestie Bootcamp” at No. 4 and Popeyes’ “Eight Bold Louisiana Flavors” at No. 8. iSpot notes that this underscores the lasting impact that well-executed creative can have on driving foot traffic over time. 

See the full top ten ad list, plus a look at the genres and dayparts driving QSR lift, by downloading iSpot’s full QSR Outcomes Ranker report here.