7 Brew, Smoothie King top Yelp's 2026 Fastest Growing Brands list
Beverage chains are increasingly gaining interest from consumers on Yelp.
Drive-thru coffee chain 7 Brew is America's fastest growing brand, with 244% year-over-year increase in consumer interest on Yelp (see full list at end of article), according to the online review platform's 2026 Fastest Growing Brands report. The rise in interest comes after the Arkansas-based coffee chain debuted on the Fastest Growing Brands list last year at #23.
Three other coffee brands landed in the top 50: Black Rock Coffee Bar (#8), Scooter's Coffee (#13) and Dutch Bros (#38). Yelp added that beverage-forward concepts Smoothie King (#2) and Sonic Drive-In (#48), also highlight how quick-service beverages have become a “must-have” for millions of Americans.
Overall, quick-serve and fast-casual restaurants made up much of the 2026 Fastest Growing Brands list, with Bojangles (#3), Paris Baguette (#6), Nothing Bundt Cakes (#9), Wingstop (#10), Taco Bell (#12) and Playa Bowls (#14) ranking high on the list.
“Value has evolved. It's no longer just about price — it's about what a brand gives you in return for your attention and your time,” said Sarah Chang, VP and head of enterprise at Yelp. “The fastest growing brands deliver joy for every dollar spent. They give consumers control, whether that's countless drink combinations, a bookstore where every shelf feels hand-picked, or a chicken sandwich customized to your exact specifications. Personalization is what's driving loyalty today.”
Yelp’s 2026 Fastest Growing Brands list includes the following:
- 7 Brew
- Smoothie King
- Bojangles
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- Paris Baguette
- Boot Barn
- Bob’s Discount Furniture
- Black Rock Coffee Bar
- Nothing Bundt Cakes
- Wingstop
- LongHorn Steakhouse
- Taco Bell
- Scooter’s Coffee
- Playa Bowls
- First Watch
- Nordstrom Rack
- Daiso
- Dave’s Hot Chicken
- Total Wine & More
- Barnes & Noble
- Jimmy John’s
- Zaxbys
- Firehouse Subs
- American Eagle Outfitters
- Ace Hardware
- Crocs
- Grocery Outlet
- Bealls
- Popeyes
- Shipley Do-Nuts
- Cava
- Lowe’s
- IHOP
- Krispy Krunchy Chicken
- Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Michaels
- Whataburger
- Dutch Bros
- Costco
- Publix
- Cold Stone Creamery
- Meijer
- Domino’s Pizza
- Wawa
- Champs Chicken
- Disney Parks
- Potbelly Sandwich Works
- Sonic Drive-In
- Bb.q Chicken
- Harbor Freight
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Methodology
To identify the Fastest Growing Brands, Yelp’s data analysts ranked brands using a blended and weighted metric including net new business openings, consumer interest, and searches on the platform in 2025 compared to 2024. The company measures net new business openings by considering new business openings and net closures in relation to the total number of locations in 2025 compared to 2024.
Consumer interest is measured by looking at select actions users take in connection with businesses on Yelp, including viewing business pages or posting photos or reviews. Searches include the number of total searches for a brand in 2025 compared to 2024, as well as the brand's share of category searches.
For search trends, Yelp measured the change in frequency of the phrases mentioned per million searches on Yelp, comparing 2025 to 2024.
