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The Happy Customer Index

Articles covering brands that have achieved high customer satisfaction scores based on proprietary data from Merchant Centric.

Featured on The Happy Customer Index

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Fast Casual
Fast-casual restaurant brands that scored the highest for ‘value’Fast-casual restaurant brands that scored the highest for ‘value’

Technomic Ignite Consumer looks at how brands impact consumers, including price paid, relative price, and affordability.

byAlicia Kelso, Executive Editor
Jun 5, 2024
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33 Slides
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Delivery & Takeout Solutions
Digital guests are less satisfied with their experiences than dine-in guestsDigital guests are less satisfied with their experiences than dine-in guests
byAlicia Kelso
Dec 5, 2023
3 Min Read
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Regional Chains
How The Melting Pot is turning an experience from the ’70s into a modern night outHow The Melting Pot is turning an experience from the ’70s into a modern night out
byHolly Petre
Oct 17, 2023
4 Min Read
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Casual Dining
Fogo de Chão continues to grow global development pipeline through 2024Fogo de Chão continues to grow global development pipeline through 2024
Sep 6, 2023
4 Min Read
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Casual Dining
10 emerging casual-dining restaurant chains consumers love10 emerging casual-dining restaurant chains consumers love
byAlicia Kelso
Jul 7, 2023
7 Slides
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Casual Dining
The casual-dining restaurants with the best customer satisfactionThe casual-dining restaurants with the best customer satisfaction
byAlicia Kelso
Jul 5, 2023
2 Min Read

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Casual Dining
10 established casual-dining restaurant chains consumers love
10 established casual-dining restaurant chains consumers love
Jul 5, 2023
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10 Slides
byAlicia Kelso, Executive Editor
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Top 500 Restaurants
Twin Peaks expects to surpass $1 billion in sales in the next five years
Twin Peaks expects to surpass $1 billion in sales in the next five years
Jul 3, 2023
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Ocean Prime proves fine dining has made a post-COVID comeback
Ocean Prime proves fine dining has made a post-COVID comeback
Jun 22, 2023
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4 Min Read
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Casual Dining
Darden Ruth’s Chris deal to expand fine-dining footprint
Darden Ruth’s Chris deal to expand fine-dining footprint
May 4, 2023
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3 Min Read
byRon Ruggless, Senior Editor
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Regional Chains
20 fast-casual restaurants with the best customer satisfaction
20 fast-casual restaurants with the best customer satisfaction
Mar 15, 2023
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9 Min Read
byAlicia Kelso, Executive Editor
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Fast Casual
10 emerging fast-casual restaurant chains consumers love
10 emerging fast-casual restaurant chains consumers love
Mar 15, 2023
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10 Slides
byAlicia Kelso, Executive Editor
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Fast Casual
10 established fast-casual restaurant chains consumers love
10 established fast-casual restaurant chains consumers love
Mar 15, 2023
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10 Slides
byAlicia Kelso, Executive Editor
Ruby Sunshine + Ruby Slipper Seasonal Mimosas + Seasonal Mimosa Flight (Photo credit Sam Hanna)
Franchising
Why Ruby Slipper is poised to become one of the strongest brunch concepts
Why Ruby Slipper is poised to become one of the strongest brunch concepts
Feb 28, 2023
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4 Min Read
byAlicia Kelso, Executive Editor
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Regional Chains
The start of a trend? New concept bets on French fries in wraps
The start of a trend? New concept bets on French fries in wraps
Jan 31, 2023
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4 Min Read
byHolly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor
cheba hut
Executives
How marijuana themed sandwich chain Cheba Hut creates a vibe embraced by all
How marijuana themed sandwich chain Cheba Hut creates a vibe embraced by all
Aug 25, 2022
bySam Oches, Editor in Chief
Ampex Brands Acquires bellagreen exterior 4
Mergers & Acquisitions
How the acquisition of Bellagreen happened during a looming recession
How the acquisition of Bellagreen happened during a looming recession
Jul 26, 2022
byHolly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor
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Fast Casual
Clean Eatz wants you to eat healthy and take care of your employees
Clean Eatz wants you to eat healthy and take care of your employees
Mar 14, 2022
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4 Min Read
byHolly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor
Melting Pot 2
Casual Dining
How the Melting Pot is re-emerging from COVID-19 stronger
How the Melting Pot is re-emerging from COVID-19 stronger
Dec 1, 2021
byJoanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor
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Fast Casual
WTF is Velvet Taco? The brand brings global flavors to Texas’ favorite food item
WTF is Velvet Taco? The brand brings global flavors to Texas’ favorite food item
Sep 28, 2021
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3 Min Read
byHolly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor
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Fast Casual
Chicken Salad Chick’s CEO on growth, labor challenges and the climate of franchising
Chicken Salad Chick’s CEO on growth, labor challenges and the climate of franchising
Apr 19, 2021
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3 Min Read
byLisa Jennings, Executive Editor
Flatbread Co. Jason Lyon 2020Jan
Operations
Casual-dining pizza restaurant, Flatbread Company, expands in a converted Firestone Complete Auto Care in Dallas, Texas
Casual-dining pizza restaurant, Flatbread Company, expands in a converted Firestone Complete Auto Care in Dallas, Texas
Jan 23, 2020
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byRon Ruggless, Senior Editor
MapleStreetKitchen EXTCREDITNANCYLUNA
Fast Casual
Maple Street Biscuit Company savors unconventional approach
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Jul 18, 2019
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byNancy Luna, Senior editor, Nation's Restaurant News

Featured

Fogo de Chão exterior at sunset
Casual Dining
How Brazilian steakhouse brand Fogo de Chão surged onto America’s favorite chain list
How Brazilian steakhouse brand Fogo de Chão surged onto America’s favorite chain list

Jan 29, 2025

Breakfasts at The Granola Bar
Family Dining
Cofounders of modern diner chain The Granola Bar share how they ‘fell forward’ into growth
Cofounders of modern diner chain The Granola Bar share how they ‘fell forward’ into growth

Jan 22, 2025

Twin Peaks storefront
Casual Dining
On cusp of IPO, Twin Peaks CEO shares how sports bar chain has redefined category
On cusp of IPO, Twin Peaks CEO shares how sports bar chain has redefined category

Jan 18, 2025

A Tom’s Watch Bar storefront
Casual Dining
Tom’s Watch Bar heats up sports bar competition with focus on experience
Tom’s Watch Bar heats up sports bar competition with focus on experience

Dec 19, 2024

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