The Future 50, our annual ranking of the fastest-growing small chains in the U.S., offers a snapshot of restaurant concepts on the rise: the up-and-comers that are the ones to watch, invest in or be inspired by.
The list brings to light some emerging trends. Where frozen yogurt once reigned (capturing the top spot in three of the previous four years), chicken now soars. As you’ll see in the ranking, Tampa, Fla.-based PDQ leads all others, with 280 percent year-over-year growth. Also thriving: better-for-you chains, tapping into consumers’ desire for healthier menu options.
Compiled by our partners at Technomic, The Future 50 spotlights chains with annual sales between $25 million and $50 million and unit growth of at least 10 percent in 2013, a milestone signaling chains on the brink of national recognition and remarkable growth.
Check out this year's Future 50 list
Quick Facts
- 16% - Percentage of chains based in California
- 30% - Percentage of chains based in the South, especially Texas, which is home to seven chains
- 1 - Number of yogurt chains, compared to three in 2010
- 6 - Number of burger chains, compared to three last year
- 15 - Number of chains that tout health
- 6 - Number of Mexican chains, both this year and last year
- 40% - Percentage of fast casuals among The Future 50
- 2 - Number of pizza chains, compared to seven last year
Trends
Mediterranean
As consumers’ quest for healthier menus gets more nuanced, Mediterranean is rising, fueled in part by reports of the cuisine’s tendency to lower heart attacks and strokes. It’s a natural hook for fastgrowing, fast-casual concepts, including four of this year’s Future 50. While most allow guests to mix and match ingredients, there’s surprising diversity among the concepts— from Roti’s shawarmafocused menu (No. 20) to the extended offerings including dolmades and tapas at Pita Jungle (No. 27) and Taziki’s (No. 13).
Upscale rising
Fast casual, and fastcasual burger concepts in particular, had a strong showing this year. But fine-dining and high-end, polished-casual brands held their own, grabbing five listings, including Hakassan (No. 3) and Bob’s Steak & Chop House (No. 26).
Fewer units, higher sales
This year’s list reflects the restaurant industry’s shifting emphasis from full-tilt expansion to generating higher sales volumes per location. Twelve of the chains in the systemwide-sales growth ranking had 15 or fewer stores; 14 had average annual unit volumes of more than $3 million.
Low-tech menus
Digital menu boards are quickly becoming a staple in the quick-service sector, but at least four Future 50 brands still prefer whiteboards, chalkboards, backlit menus and other signboards on which the listings are handwritten.
Sales slowdown
Outpacing the pack of midtier chains doesn’t spare a Future 50 growth demon from the industrywide slowdown in guest traffic. More than half of the concepts here had declines or no change in same-store sales during 2013.
Entertainment
Classic games were back in vogue for this year’s Future 50, from bowling at Bowlmore Lanes (No. 8) and Pinstripes (No. 12) to bingo and trivia contests at Pluckers Wing Bar (No. 40).
“Fired”
While still widespread, words such as “fresh” and “housemade” have begun to run their course, says Darren Tristano, executive vice president at Technomic. Today, “fired” is the hot term at concepts such as Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill (No. 22) and Grimaldi’s (No. 44), which touts its coal-fired brick ovens.
View this year's Future 50 list
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