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Top 500 2022

Financing

Here are the country’s biggest burger chains

 By Jonathan Maze on May 13, 2022

While consumers have been flocking to chicken concepts, burgers remain a major draw and chains serving them have thrived since the pandemic, according to the Technomic Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report.

Emerging Brands

Inside the plate lunch concept that’s growing ultra-fast with Hawaiian comfort food

 By Heather Lalley on May 06, 2022

Drive-thrus and a super-simple menu propelled Hawaiian Bros. Island Grill into the Top 500, with year-over-year sales growth of 172%.

Financing

How Crumbl Cookies became one of the hottest restaurant chains in the country

By Jonathan Maze on May 05, 2022

The franchise brand has come out of nowhere to become one of the nation’s fastest-growing chains. And it has the unit economics to be a long-term success.

Food

Subway’s sales inch up on the strength of its new menu

By Patricia Cobe on May 04, 2022

The launch of “Eat Fresh Refresh” last July is just the first step in a multi-year, product-by-product menu upgrade.

Operations

Top 500: Fast-growing Hook & Reel leads the emerging seafood boil segment

By Peter Romeo on Apr. 27, 2022

The seventh fastest grower on this year's list brings value back to the full-service seafood market.

Emerging Brands

Top 500: The pandemic-fueled chicken craving still has legs

By Heather Lalley on Apr. 18, 2022

Fast-casual chicken chains grew their sales by more than 24% over 2019—more than any other segment tracked by the Top 500.

Financing

The average unit volumes for a stand-alone Chick-fil-A are insane

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 18, 2022

On average, one of the chain’s non-mall locations generates more than $8 million in sales a year, soaring 54% the past five years. Those unit volumes have helped propel the concept’s remarkable run.

Financing

These are the chains and sectors that have done best since the pandemic

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 15, 2022

The Bottom Line: Jersey Mike’s, Tropical Smoothie, Dutch Bros and Raising Cane’s have enjoyed the strongest growth among the biggest chains. Some of the other winners might surprise you.

Financing

How Pizza Ranch learned to live with the buffet, and then without it

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 15, 2022

The pizza and chicken buffet concept has recovered from the pandemic, but not just because it focused more on takeout and installed drive-thru windows. Some credit goes to video games.

Financing

A look at which chains stood out in 2021

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 13, 2022

A Deeper Dive: The podcast features Technomic’s Joe Pawlak, talking about how big chains were able to recover so quickly from the pandemic.

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