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The top five fast casual stories for January 2015

The top stories in January centered on restaurants poised for breakout years through franchising and growth; the secrets to Starbucks' success and CEOs' takes on top trends for 2015.

February 2, 2015 by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

In case you missed them the first time around, here's a list of our top stories from January 2015:

1. Is Zoes Kitchen poised as a breakout year?

Zoës Kitchen raised approximately $87 million when it went public last April. After spending about half of that amount to retire debt, Zoës now has another $42 million burning a hole in its pocket. According to CEO Kevin Miles, the Mediterranean-inspired concept will use some of that cash to open 30 – 32 new restaurants this year, mostly in existing markets.

2. Pond is poised to make a splash in 2015

We kicked off the year by introducing you to a fresh new face on the fast casual scene: Hunter Pond. The 20-something dropped out of law school to pursue his dream of opening his own upscale sandwich shop. Just two years later, Pond's East Hampton Sandwich shop has attracted investor backing, and will double its Dallas footprint from three units to six units this year.

3. Three takeaways for Starbucks' Q1 2015 report

Starbucks announced its Q1 2015 results on Jan. 22, and not surprisingly, the results were as strong as a cup of espresso. The Seattle-based coffee behemoth posted global same store sales increases of five percent, and one out of seven American adults received a card this holiday season, up from one out of eight last season. What's driving Starbucks' continued success? A solid loyalty program that's become the foundation of its technological innovation, seamless operational execution and continued food and beverage innovation.

4. Tokyo Joe's rolling into new year with first franchise

It waited twenty years to start franchising, but Tokyo Joe's timing may be just right. The Colorado-based Japanese concept will open its first franchise unit in Tucson, Arizona later this year, just as consumer interest in Asian fare is on the rise. Tokyo Joe's plans to work a "spoke and wheel" approach to growth, gaining a foothold in a region, then adding units in outlying areas.

5. Fast casual segment leaders make their 2015 predictions

No January is complete without some predictions. What do restaurant CEOs think will be hot in 2015? The farm-to-table movement continues to be very influential, with customers wanting to know where their food is coming from, and showing strong preferences for fresh, local fare. Consumers will also continue to be health-conscious, and will look for ways to reduce calorie – and especially sugar – intake. Off the menu, restaurants should be thinking mobile first, from offering customers the option to pay with their ever-present smartphones to connecting with fans via social media.

Edited image courtesy of Flickr user Michael Ruiz. Creative Commons license can be seen here.

Trends / Statistics Franchising

About Brenda Rick Smith

Brenda has more than 20 years of experience as a marketing and public relations professional. She invested most of her career telling the story of entrepreneurial non-profit organizations, particularly through social media.

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