2016 Second 100: Sales look good, but unit growth tempered2016 Second 100: Sales look good, but unit growth tempered

Restaurant brands that have qualified for the Nation’s Restaurant News Second 100 enjoyed a strong performance, at least if you look at systemwide sales. Unit growth, however, is another story. 

Together, the chains that follow the Top 100 largest restaurant brands, and rank Nos. 101-200 based on U.S. systemwide sales, booked aggregate sales of $25.5 billion in the Latest Year — a 4-percent increase from the Preceding Year. Performance by these Second 100 chains echoed the strong sales of their larger counterparts in the Top 100, which also boasted a strong fiscal 2015.

Second 100 chains generated these higher sales largely by attracting more customers to and selling more food at existing restaurants, rather than through unit expansion. F...