Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers

2016 Top 500: Chicken chains

The chicken chains from the 2016 Top 500 ranking have been boosted by sandwich, wing and chicken finger specialists.

2016 Top 500 restaurant chains

More than half of the restaurant industry’s $491 billion in sales come from the Top 500 chains. And these giants grew at a modestly stronger rate, both in terms of sales and store counts, than the industry overall. Restaurant Business focused on the leading 250 performers to identify trends for our first-ever special report delivering lessons from Technomic’s annual Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report. This special package includes lessons for all operators from the largest chains by segment, menu category and more.

A look at the top chains winning with solo diners—as well as those scoring high with most consumers but missing the mark when it comes to dine-alone guests.

Customers share which brands have the menu items they most crave and can’t get anywhere else.

Technomic looks at consumers’ assessments of more than 60 attributes in order to determine the winners of its annual Chain Restaurant Consumers’ Choice Awards.

In addition to measuring chains’ operational attributes, Technomic also rated their connections to consumers through a series of questions designed to gauge loyalty and perception of a brand.

Chains ranking highest in their competitive set deliver more than just good food. They’re winning in all aspects of the dining experience, from service to convenience.

Just starting to get their own spending power, Gen Z is now in operators’ sights. Because of their limited budgets, this generation frequents QSRs the most.

Millennials are the most reliant on foodservice of all generations, finds Technomic. They also drive off-premise dining, including takeout and delivery.

As expected, fast casual is still growing faster than other segments, though Technomic recently suggested its growth may be slowed in the coming years.

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