2016 Top 500: Fast-casual chains

Fast casual continues full speed ahead, with two decades of double-digit growth. With $34 billion in sales—an 11.5% increase—the segment now comprises about 12% of the Top 500. For the first time, its largest player earned a spot in the ranking’s top 10: Panera Cafe took the No. 10 slot from Applebee’s.

2016 Rank	Chain Name	2015 U.S. Sales ($000)	2015 U.S. Units
10	Panera Bread/Saint Louis Bread Co.	4,795,900	1,955
13	Chipotle Mexican Grill	4,419,590	1,987
27	Panda Express	2,550,184	1,790
33	Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches	2,018,700*	2,450*
41	Zaxby's	1,478,400*	748
42	Five Guys Burgers and Fries	1,319,491	1,215
54	Wingstop	768,622	786
56	Qdoba Mexican Eats	744,943*	670
63	Jersey Mike's Subs	675,000	1,046
65	Jason's Deli	654,300*	262
66	Firehouse Subs	648,528	943
68	Moe's Southwest Grill	638,120	637
71	Boston Market	610,000*	452
74	Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers	567,269	249
77	McAlister's Deli	547,701	361
82	Dickey's Barbecue Pit	519,600*	530
83	Noodles & Company	517,943	491
84	Einstein Bros. Bagels	511,900*	742
97	Corner Bakery Cafe	380,969	197
99	Pollo Tropical	368,175	160
102	Au Bon Pain	363,300	207
106	Pei Wei Asian Diner	350,343	213
112	Taco Cabana	331,431*	166
114	Schlotzsky's	319,638	350
119	Smashburger	306,517	328
129	Portillo's	275,300*	41
137	Fuddruckers	253,000*	173
139	Habit Burger Grill, The	251,366*	142
155	Zoes Kitchen	230,835	166
157	Fazoli's	228,600	214
160	Rubio's	221,973	192
164	Which Wich Superior Sandwiches	214,400*	375
168	Bruegger's Bagels	209,000*	280*
170	Baja Fresh Mexican Grill	206,700*	166
174	Shake Shack	199,377	49
177	Cafe Rio Mexican Grill	196,200*	89
182	Taco Bueno	185,000*	175
183	Donatos Pizza	183,600	153
184	Newk's Eatery	183,200	95
187	Le Pain Quotidien	182,700*	88
192	Penn Station East Coast Subs	176,700*	295
194	FREEBIRDS World Burrito	168,700*	95
197	la Madeleine Country French Cafe	165,400*	76
215	Pret a Manger	147,600*	64
234	Cosi	129,717*	104
243	Farmer Boys	122,800*	78
250	Tijuana Flats	120,000	115

*Technomic estimate

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2016 Top 500: Fast-casual chains

2016 Rank

Chain Name

2015 U.S. Sales ($000)

2015 U.S. Units

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