Rank |
Chain |
2009 U.S. Sales ($MM) |
% Sales Change |
% Unit Change |
1 |
Five Guys Burgers and Fries |
$453 * |
50% |
52% |
2 |
Tim Hortons |
446 |
23 |
8 |
3 |
Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar |
1,496 |
22 |
16 |
4 |
Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shop |
602 * |
21 |
18 |
5 |
Wingstop |
307 |
20 |
9 |
6 |
Noodles & Company |
230 |
15 |
13 |
7 |
BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse |
430 |
14 |
12 |
8 |
Chipotle Mexican Grill |
1,517 |
14 |
14 |
9 |
Firehouse Subs |
206 |
10 |
5 |
10 |
Potbelly Sandwich Works |
246 * |
10 |
4 |
|
Total |
$5,933 |
19% |
16% |
*Technomic estimate
In total, the top 10 fastest-growing chains?? sales accounted for $5.9 billion, a 19 percent increase over 2008. Unit counts grew 16 percent.
While the Top 500 chains posted a decline in sales in the aggregate, individual results varied dramatically with sales ranging from Yogurtland??s 157.7 percent growth to Bennigan??s Grill & Tavern??s 71.8 percent estimated sales decline. Only 40 percent of the Top 500 restaurant chains posted at least nominal sales increases; 283 of these chains suffered sales declines in 2009 compared to only 213 in 2008. Both winners and losers appeared in each segment and menu category. These widely mixed results demonstrate the overall competitiveness of the industry and the need for suppliers and operators to carefully identify and focus on the winners.
International performance by the Top 500 restaurant chains significantly outperformed their domestic counterpart growth in 2009. International sales (up 3.3 percent) outpaced U.S. sales (down 0.8 percent); international unit growth was also up 5.2 percent versus 0.3 percent for U.S. units.
The Technomic Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report provides Technomic??s exclusive 5-year sales forecast by menu category, update on franchise and international activity, 5-, 10- and 20-year trend analyses, outlook for the future, market share by menu category, and much more.