15 restaurant brands to watch15 restaurant brands to watch

Each year, the Nation’s Restaurant News Top 200 ranking sees a few new faces, as rising stars ride impressive sales growth and mature brands see their fortunes fade. Following the release of the annual Top 200 list in June, NRN looks at growing brands that currently fall below the sales threshold to make the cut, but have the potential to break into the ranks in the coming years. These 15 brands range in domestic systemwide sales from just over $163 million to just under $75 million, and all had sales gains in the Latest Year. In fact, these Next Gen brands had an average growth rate of 16.8%, more than five times the 3.2% sales growth rate of this year’s Top 200 brands. Get a snapshot of these chains and their Latest-Year performance here. Then keep an eye on future Top 200 rankings: You might spot them there soon.