Ally and Scott Svenson, who founded the chain based in Bellevue, Wash., in 2008, hire people who might have trouble finding jobs elsewhere, like ex-convicts or those recovering from addiction.

They tend to start them at well over minimum wage, give them a free meal during their shift and a 50 percent discount for them and their guests any time they want. They also have created a culture that accepts them and a support network to help them succeed.

That, as well as local charity contributions and an inviting environment in restaurants, complete with carefully curated music, has resulted in a loyal and expanding customer base, as well as more than $180 million from equity investors.

The parent company of the fast-casual chicken wing chain is a new member of the Top 200 for a somewhat technical reason: Roark Capital Group sold enough shares in the publicly traded company that it no longer had a controlling interest. Regardless, annual domestic systemwide sales at the company’s namesake chain still passed $1 billion in the Latest Year — growth of more than $100 million compared to the Preceding Year — which helped fuel the company’s related Top 200 revenue growth of 46.6 percent. That chain boost was thanks to innovation in advertising and staying ahead of the competition in digital strategy.

Wingstop launched its first national advertising right after the Super Bowl — Super Bowl weekend is far and away the largest three days of the year for wing sales across the country — and ramped up digital sales by making ordering available virtually anywhere guests wanted it, including Facebook and Twitter messaging, Amazon Alexa and GM’s OnStar marketplace.

In the quarter ended March 31, 2018, digital sales accounted for around 24 percent of total sales, up from 19.7 percent at the end of 2016.

The parent of better burger chain Shake Shack saw a 33.5-percent increase in estimated Latest-Year U.S. revenue largely by opening more units, both in new markets, such as Detroit, St. Louis and Milwaukee, and through efficiency plays, such as use of cashless guest self-order kiosks that can reduce service times and build tickets with automated upselling prompts.

The New York City-based chain launched its ordering app at the beginning of 2017 and opened its first kiosk-only, cashless location in its hometown last October.

Management announced plans to open more of them this year, and founder Danny Meyer has commented on the desirability of phasing out cash at all of his restaurants for the sake of safety and efficiency.

The Baton Rouge, La.-based parent of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers continued its rapid revenue growth — 32.6 percent in the Latest Year — by sticking to its knitting.

The chain offers a minimalist menu of chicken tenders, fries, Texas toast, coleslaw, dipping sauce and soft drinks.

Based on just that, and focusing on quality and great service, the company has managed sustained, high growth for the past decade.

While Raising Cane’s keeps it simple, the parent of Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant achieved Latest-Year revenue growth of more than 30 percent in by giving its customers many reasons to visit.

The chain has a wine club with nearly 300,000 members, tasting rooms and a retail arm, as well as offsite events, all of which help make it a true lifestyle brand.

Its strategy of opening outside of major cities helps to make it a sort of community gathering place, where wine club members can pick up their monthly selection and socialize.