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2015 Top 100: Casual Dining segment analysis2015 Top 100: Casual Dining segment analysis

This is part of Nation's Restaurant News’ annual Top 100 report, a proprietary census ranking the foodservice industry’s largest restaurant chains and companies by sales and unit data, among other metrics.

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

June 19, 2015

3 Min Read
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The Top 100 Casual-Dining segment displayed marked improvement in total sales in the Latest Year as the economy showed signs of health and restaurant brands invested in upgrading technology to lure customers.

Total U.S. systemwide sales for the 27 Casual-Dining chains in this year’s report rose more than 4.1 percent, to $38.9 billion, from $37.4 billion in the Preceding Year. The average growth rate among chains in the segment hit 4.4 percent, with only eight chains reporting declines in domestic systemwide sales.

“Things have certainly improved for casual dining,” said Wally Doolin, chairman and founder of Dallas-based analytics firm TDn2k, parent to Black Box Intelligence and the People Report. The year 2014 “started out with a terrible ...

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About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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