PARIS - In 2012, sales at QSRs in France outperformed those at the country??s traditional sit-down restaurants offering table service, the first time fast food has reached number one in sales, The Local reports.

QSR sales totaled ??34 billion (U.S. $44.3 billion), 54% of the market and a substantial rise from 2011 when sales of burgers, hot dogs, pizzas and sandwiches represented 40% of the overall market.

"This growth [of the fast food market] is far superior to that of the whole of the traditional restaurant sector," said Bernard Boutboul director of the consultancy firm Gira Conseil, which carried out the report into French eating habits.

Since 2004, when QSRs began expanding their offerings into new areas, their market share has grown by 74%.

France is the world??s second largest market (after the United States) for McDonald??s, which last year generated ??4.35 billion (U.S. $5.66 billion) in sales. Meanwhile, its rival Quick achieved a 5% increase in sales.

The report revealed the French are the second biggest consumers of pizza in the world (after the U.S.), consuming 1.6 billion pies a year. Meanwhile, sandwich sales rose 6% in France last year to reach ??7.01billion (U.S. $9.13 billion).