Today’s consumers are interested in more than just convenience and quality food; they want to feel a personal connection with restaurants. To see which brands are winning beyond the operational attributes, Technomic rated chains through a series of questions designed to gauge loyalty and consumer engagement. Interestingly, this year’s overall favorite chain—Chick-fil-A—is the only one ranked in all for categories, showing that forming that connection does have an impact on overall brand perception.
Brand loyalty
| Chick-fil-A | 44.2% |
| In-N-Out Burger | 43.8% |
| Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza | 41.8% |
| Cheddar's Casual Cafe | 41.7% |
| The Habit Burger Grill | 38.9% |
Emotional connection
| Chick-fil-A | 41.9% |
| In-N-Out Burger | 38.2% |
| Seasons 52 | 36.3% |
| Ben & Jerry's | 34.8% |
| The Capital Grille | 33.4% |
Advertising effectiveness
| Red Lobster | 31.4% |
| Chick-fil-A | 30.5% |
| Popeyes Louisina Kitchen | 29.6% |
| Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shop | 29.1% |
| Red Robin Gourmet Burgers | 29.1% |
Brand image
| Chick-fil-A | 40.5% |
| Ben & Jerry's | 37.7% |
| In-N-Out Burger | 36.7% |
| Seasons 52 | 33.4% |
| Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers | 32.4% |
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