The top three Casual-Dining chains within Top 100 — Applebee’s, Olive Garden and Chili’s — all lost market share, with category leader Applebee’s slipping to 11.8 percent of segment sales, compared with 12.1 percent a year earlier. The one to watch is Buffalo Wild Wings, which claimed 8.3 percent of segment sales this year, rising from 7.5 percent a year ago. Buffalo Wild Wings also grew units by more than 7.6 percent this year, and was among the top 10 fastest-growing chains in terms of U.S. systemwide sales.

IHOP may be growing its Family-Dining market share, but Denny’s is coming within striking distance of the category leader. IHOP’s sales represented 23.6 percent of the segment, rising from 22.9 percent a year earlier, compared with Denny’s, in the No. 2 slot, with 20.4 percent of sales within the segment, rising from 19.9 percent, despite a slight reduction in unit count.

Subway also saw its share erode to 63.3 percent of sales, compared with 65.7 percent the Preceding Year. Jimmy John’s saw solid market-share growth, climbing from 7.9 percent of sales to 9.1 percent. Arby’s also grew its market share after losing share the Preceding Year.

In the increasingly competitive Chicken segment, KFC continued its market-share decline, as did Church’s Chicken. Though a standout as a rotisserie concept, Boston Market also lost share despite gains the Preceding Year, slipping in the ranking from No. 8 to the No. 9 slot.

A surprise market share loser was Panera Bread, category leader within the bakery-cafe segment, which slipped from 79 percent of sales in the Preceding Year to 78.8 percent in the Latest Year, despite the fact that the chain saw market share growth the Prior Year. Panera’s U.S. systemwide sales grew more than 5.7 percent this year, a slower pace compared with more than 11.5-percent growth the Preceding Year.

Pizza category sales leader Pizza Hut also took a hit in market share, along with CiCi’s Pizza. Pizza Hut’s U.S. systemwide sales declined 3.5 percent in the latest year.

One category leader that grew its share was Starbucks, which took from every player in the Beverage-Snack category, except perhaps Auntie Anne’s, which gained share this year.

Despite a relatively strong year for Limited Service/Mexican category leader Taco Bell, with U.S. systemwide sales climbing 5.1 percent, the quick-service chain lost market share to fast-casual brands like Chipotle Mexican Grill, Qdoba Mexican Grill and Moe’s Southwest Grill. Taco Bell’s primary quick-service competitor, Del Taco, slipped in the market share rankings, from No. 3 to No. 4, allowing Qdoba to claim the No. 3 spot.

On the upswing, Noodles & Company is poised to climb the rankings if market share declines continue for Long John Silver’s and Captain D’s Seafood Kitchen within the Limited Service/Specialty category. Long John Silver’s lost 4 percentage points within the category this year. The chain’s unit count also declined more than 7.7 percent, and U.S. systemwide sales fell 16.4 percent.