Meet the 10 fastest-growing restaurant chains in AmericaMeet the 10 fastest-growing restaurant chains in America

Shake Shack took the top spot in the Top 200 U.S. systemwide sales growth rankings, with 34.5% year-over-year growth in the Latest Year, according to NRN Top 200 data. MOD Pizza, which had been the fastest-growing Top 200 chain the past two years, moved to No. 3.

Limited-service chains dominate the top 10 growth ranks, with seven of the 10 operating in the fast-casual or quick-service segments. They cover a broad range of menu items — including burgers, pizza and smoothies — but chicken ruled the roost. In fact, four of the 10 fastest-growing brands have chicken as a core menu item. Three full-service brands — First Watch, Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar and Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant — also join the list.

All 10 had double-digit year-over-year growth in domestic sales, ranging from about 18% to more than 34%, for their latest completed fiscal years, which ended in late 2019 and early 2020. Given that timing, these results largely predate the impact of coronavirus, which continues to unfold. Still, they offer insights as to which brands had the strongest momentum coming into this year. 

Take a closer look at 2019’s fastest-growing chains, counted down here.

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