Fast food showdown

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - It's a fast food showdown.

When it comes to take out, restaurants have a new rival. You could say there's a battle brewing. Supermarkets are eating up a share of the market for convenient, ready-to-eat meals.

Dinnertime can pose an interesting dilemma for Americans looking to save time, but craving the comforts of the family table.

It looks like restaurants now have some competition.

Consumers are increasingly turning to the supermarket for their takeout needs, stopping in and taking out fully-prepared dinners. You've probably heard a $6 meal at one local grocery chain.

Fast-food places, burgers, chicken, Mexican, pizza, still dominate the take-home market. But supermarkets are becoming a bigger slice of that pie.

A new survey from NPD finds grocery stores edge out fast-food restaurants in terms of convenient location, pricing, variety and especially healthy choices.

Wherever you pick up your dinner, you'll avoid things like tips, extra beverages, and spend less than when you dine in a restaurant, making those take-out meals a hot spot in a lukewarm economy.