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Top 500 2026

Financing

Handel’s, and its 'analog' experience, is surging

 By Jonathan Maze on Jul. 21, 2026

The ice cream chain has been one of the country’s fastest-growing frozen dessert chains over the past decade, without the benefit of digital sales or crazy flavors.

Financing

In a sluggish burger business, volumes matter

 By Jonathan Maze on Jul. 08, 2026

The Bottom Line: Fast-food burger chain sales have slowed over the past two years as consumers have shifted to quality. But chains with at least $2 million in average unit volumes have been winning.

Financing

The fast-food sandwich business is struggling, and it's not just Subway

By Jonathan Maze on Jul. 01, 2026

The Bottom Line: Fast-food sandwich chains and their low unit volumes have lost share to fast-casual brands with better quality reputations and more sustainable business models.

Financing

Restaurant chains are in a losing battle with inflation

By Jonathan Maze on Jun. 29, 2026

The Bottom Line: An analysis of restaurant chain performance since 2021 reveals an industry that reflects the U.S. consumer: bifurcated, but mostly struggling to keep up with prices.

Financing

When it comes to closures, restaurant chains are back to 2019 again

By Alicia Kelso and Jonathan Maze on Jun. 26, 2026

The number of restaurant chains that have closed 10% or more of their locations has nearly doubled since 2023. But the industry was experiencing the same phenomenon just before the pandemic.

Financing

Generation 2017: 4 chains that have changed the restaurant business

By Jonathan Maze on Jun. 10, 2026

The Bottom Line: 7 Brew, Luckin Coffee, Dave’s Hot Chicken and Crumbl were all created in 2017 and have taken advantage of franchising, technology and social media to turn the industry on its head.

Financing

Tommy Bahama's restaurants are thriving, on and off the beach

By Joe Guszkowski on May 27, 2026

The clothing company has carved out a unique niche in casual dining with its combination of retail stores and restaurants that offer customers a sense of escape.

Financing

Did a lower average check yield sales growth? That depends

By Jonathan Maze on May 27, 2026

The Bottom Line: An analysis of Technomic Top 500 data showed some correlation between average check and sales performance, but it depended on segment and cuisine.

Marketing

Tropical Smoothie Café wants to turn on its marketing engine

By Jonathan Maze on May 27, 2026

The smoothie chain that also sells food has had strong growth and customer value scores. Now it just needs to build brand awareness. It has a plan to do that.

Emerging Brands

In an intense chicken category, Guthrie’s has emerged as the ’60-year-old underdog’

By Alicia Kelso on May 26, 2026

According to the Technomic Top 500, the chicken fingers chain’s sales jumped by nearly 17% in 2025, while its unit count increased nearly 8%.

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