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Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza, like its closest rival MOD Pizza, has emerged as a leader in the competitive fast-casual pizza segment. Blaze was the 10th-fastest-growing chain in the Top 200 with 17.1% increase to $326.6 million in the Latest Year. That follows sales growth of 50.8% a year earlier.
The Pasadena, Calif.-based chain is known for its signature 11-inch custom pies, but it’s also responding to the rise of delivery with a test of 14-inch pizza available for delivery only.
Jersey Mike’s lands in the ninth spot with 17.8% growth in domestic systemwide sales, to $1.1 billion, boosted by an 11.2% increase in unit count in the Latest Year.
The heavily franchised brand has been implementing a number of initiatives to improve access and speed of service, including a delivery partnership with Uber Eats and experimenting with drive-thru locations.
Tropical Smoothie Café boosted its sales 20.3% in the Latest Year, to $472.6 million, a performance that CEO Charles Watson credited largely to menu innovation and broader brand awareness.
Investment in new menu items, such as a line of quesadillas that rolled out in 2018, have helped drive incremental food sales, he added, noting that about 40% of the chain’s sales come from food items, and 60% from smoothies. The brand has also seen gains in digital sales, including through its mobile app.
“We sit at the intersection of taste and health, so I think we certainly are riding the healthier trends that are out there,” Watson said.
True Food Kitchen makes its Top 200 debut this year at No. 200, with a 22.2% increase in sales to reach $167 million in the Latest Year.
The health-focused Casual Dining brand, which last summer got an investment from media mogul Oprah Winfrey, is looking to continue that climb. Under CEO Christine Barone — who recently said the brand remains committed to “aggressive growth” — the brand has added new locations, expanded its executive team, introduced a new loyalty program and added delivery.
Less is more for Raising Cane’s, which has built its brand around a simple menu of chicken fingers and a couple of side dishes. The chain’s U.S. systemwide sales rose 22.5% in the Latest Year to hit $1.2 billion to be the sixth-fastest-growing chain in the Top 200. It was the fastest-growing chain in the Chicken segment, and led the pack on unit growth as well, with a 13.6% gain.
The brand has a strong fanbase and is a standout in NRN’s annual Consumer Picks survey, with high marks for craveability and “best in class” chicken.
The Habit Burger Grill makes the list of fast-growing brands with a 22.9% increase in Latest-Year U.S. systemwide sales, fueled by an 18% increase in domestic unit count.
The burger chain has focused on initiatives to promote convenience and value, including adding more craveable LTOs, launching delivery and adding drive-thru locations.
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar saw a 27.1% increase in Latest-Year sales to reach $176 million and make its Top 200 debut at the No. 191 rank. It marked the second straight year of double-digit gains in both sales and units for the Casual-Dining chain.
The chain aims to bring the feel of the Rockies to guests with mountain lodge-inspired decor, family-friendly spaces and a menu of casual comfort foods like burgers, ribs and pizza. It also targets the Millennial customer with a robust craft beer program.
Shake Shack has been growing at a breakneck pace, both at home and abroad, including opening 20 units systemwide in the last quarter of 2018 — a company record. The better-burger brand saw U.S. systemwide sales grow 27.3% in the Latest Year, fueled by a 36% increase in domestic unit count.
As it grows, the company is focused on fundamentals like managing costs, creating a better digital experience for customers, and recruiting and retaining employees with creative incentives.
“The bigger we get, the smaller we have to act,” CEO Randy Garutti said.
Breakfast-focused brand First Watch is one of several small chains breathing new life into the struggling Family-Dining segment. The chain’s 33% sales growth in the Latest Year makes it by far the fastest-growing Family-Dining brand as well as the third-fastest Top 200 brand overall. The brand had double-digit growth in both sales and units in both the Latest and Preceding Years.
CEO Chris Tomasso said the chain — whose menu features such items as a BLT Benedict, quinoa bowls and kale tonics — is well-positioned to capitalize on three prevailing consumer trends: increased focus on health, popularity of breakfast and brunch, and a desire for value.
MOD Pizza is the fastest-growing Top 200 chain for the second consecutive year. The fast-casual pizza chain pulled away from its closest competitor, Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza, in the Latest Year, with a gain of 44.7% in the Latest Year. That came on top of MOD’s 80% increase in sales the Preceding Year.
Founders Scott Svenson and Ally Svenson have built the brand around a socially conscious, people-first mission. That approach includes hiring employees who may have trouble being hired elsewhere, including people with special needs or those who have been in prison or rehab, as well as paying employees above minimum wage and donating to charitable causes.
