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The Future 50 2009

Restaurant Business Magazine's annual ranking of the fastest growing small chains in America.

My best mistake

"I lost my cool—at the wrong person."— Kat Cole, President, CinnabonAccording to a business fable that’s made the rounds, a mid-level executive...

In one corner, c-stores, trying to reinvent themselves and steal customers from restaurants by beefing up the quality and quantity of their food.

Fast casual continues full speed ahead, with two decades of double-digit growth. With $34 billion in sales—an 11.5% increase—the segment now comprises about 12% of the Top 500.

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.

Among sandwich chains from the 2016 Top 500 ranking, one veteran has ignited a healthy uptick in sales, while another struggles with oversaturation.

Corner Bakery's Ric Scicchitano will move to the sandwich chain on Sept. 6.

Operators are looking to cash in on the chatter surrounding this year’s presidential race.

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