Of the roughly 62 billion commercial foodservice meals and snacked consumed per year, 6% are purchased at retail outlets including food, drug, discount, department and price clubs, and an additional 7% are purchased at convenience stores, according to a new report from The NPD Group, a market research company. Retail ready-to-eat meal and snack purchases grew 2% for the year ending in August 2008, and the quick service restaurant (QSR) segment served 1% more meals and snacks. This is opposed to the full-service restaurant segment, which suffered a downturn. According to the report, consumers purchase prepared meals and snacks from retail stores due to convenience, variety, availability of healthier options and affordability, attributes that consumers report lacking at QSRs.