CHICAGO — According to a new report by foodservice consultants Technomic, sales for the Top 100 fast casual chains grew 10.8 percent, totaling $16.7 billion for 2008. Unit growth was strong as well, with units for the Top 100 growing by 7.3 percent in the same period.
The Top 100 fast casuals accounted for nearly all of the $19 billion to $20 billion in sales grossed by the fast casual category as a whole for the year. The new "2009 Top 100 Fast-Casual Restaurant Report" provides rankings, analysis and profiles of the leading chains and emerging trends and players in today's fastest-growing segment. Insights include:
- Panera Bread/Saint Louis Bread Company led the Top 100 with total sales of an estimated $2.6 billion in 2008, a 16.2 percent increase over 2007. The increase was largely driven by unit growth of 13.5 percent.
- Chipotle ranked No. 2, achieving sales of $1.3 billion, representing sales growth of 20.7 percent. Its unit growth was up 19.4 percent over 2007.
- The Bakery Café menu category generated $4.3 billion in sales in 2008, over one-quarter of the Top 100 total sales of $16.7 billion.
- Mexican and Chicken categories followed with sales of $3.6 billion and $2.6 billion, respectively.
- High sales-growth menu categories included Asian/Noodle (up 13.6 percent), Bakery Café (up 12.3 percent), Mexican (up 11.9 percent) and Hamburger (up 11.5 percent).
- Unit growth leaders were Hamburger (up 12.7 percent) and Asian/Noodle (up 12.2 percent).
Many chains have focused their expansion efforts on building environmentally friendly stores. This trend will continue because of its cost efficiencies and its positive social message, the report finds.
"The fast casual segment is being pushed toward higher standards by the difficult economic environment," said Darren Tristano, EVP at Technomic. "They are forced to compete for diminishing diners' dollars while maintaining high quality fare. Leaders are innovating by introducing new value-priced menu items, retooling menus to boost sales during slower dayparts and developing new programs like catering and selling retail packaged goods to supplement the bottom line."
The "2009 Top 100 Fast-Casual Restaurant Report" includes appendices listing the Top 100 chains alphabetically and by rank in sales and units, and contains profiles detailing concept and menu positioning.
