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Emerging Brands

New brands and soon-to-open concepts worth watching

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.

Emerging Brands

Why this up-and-coming salad chain says it’s ready to go head-to-head with Sweetgreen

 By Heather Lalley on Apr. 15, 2022

Crisp & Green, founded in 2016 by former fitness chain executive Steele Smiley, said it has been profitable every quarter and that it is seeing $2.5 million average unit volumes.

Emerging Brands

Why a small sandwich concept is breaking out of the fast-casual box

By Heather Lalley on Apr. 07, 2022

Zunzi’s was doing well as a traditional fast casual, its CEO said, but then it added a bar and sales soared. Now, it’s changed its franchising plans.

Emerging Brands

3-unit Rasa scores some growth funding

By Heather Lalley on Mar. 08, 2022

The Indian fast casual’s founders said the money will allow the chain to expand along the East Coast to offer its “authentic and accessible” fare in more cities.

Emerging Brands

How Original ChopShop is growing like a big chain while it’s still small

By Heather Lalley on Mar. 07, 2022

The 17-unit fast-casual adopted practices from bigger brands early on which have helped it navigate through the pandemic with strong sales.

Emerging Brands

Walk-On's is opening an Atlanta office

By Joe Guszkowski on Jan. 25, 2022

The satellite to its Baton Rouge HQ will house finance, analytics and tech departments to help support the chain's rapid growth.

Emerging Brands

Tony Roma’s gets ready for its fast casual debut

By Heather Lalley on Jan. 24, 2022

The 50-year-old casual-dining chain, which has shrunk to just seven U.S. units, sees a future in its smaller Bones & Burgers offshoot.

Emerging Brands

Friendly's plans a fast-casual entry

By Peter Romeo on Jan. 20, 2022

A scaled-down riff called Friendly's Cafe will fire up its kitchen next month.

Emerging Brands

Sweetfin gets an investment from an Italian poke chain

By Heather Lalley on Jan. 18, 2022

Poke House has taken a minority stake in the 14-unit poke fast casual based in Southern California, allowing it to speed up its growth.

Emerging Brands

How Obama's personal finance advisor is trying to change the face of restaurants

By Heather Lalley on Jan. 18, 2022

Robbie Robinson, co-founder of the Pendulum Holdings investment and advisory group, partnered with Chopt parent Founder’s Table to bring capital to operators who typically don’t get funding.

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