Datassential report reveals top 25 emerging restaurant chains
When it comes to the next generation of restaurant growth, focused concepts are scaling faster and global cuisines is continuing to gain momentum.
That’s according to Datassential’s Top 25 Emerging Chains report, which highlights the restaurant concepts that are rapidly growing across the United States. The ranking is part of the food and beverage company's flagship Datassential 500 report, which tracks performance and innovation across the most influential restaurant brands nationwide. (Top 10 emerging chains listed at end of article.)
Datassential's analysis revealed that many of the rapidly-growing chains, including Toastique and Savvy Sliders, have built strong momentum around specialized menus that are easy to scale and resonate strongly with consumers.
Other trends shaping the next generation of restaurant brands include the ongoing momentum of global cuisine, reflecting growing consumer demand for international flavors and experiential dining. Dessert concepts are aslo booming as brands such as The Peach Cobbler Factory and Parlor Doughnuts benefit from strong consumer discovery through social media and indulgent, highly shareable menu items.
Younger consumers' demand for fast, convenient, and highly customizable beverages is also spurring growth, with concepts that go beyond traditional coffee, offering indulgent, visually appealing drinks and streamlined formats that combine speed, personalization and social-media-friendly menu innovation, according to Datassential.
"Emerging chains are where we see the future of the foodservice industry take shape," said Jim Emling, CEO of Datassential. "These brands are not just growing quickly, they're often the earliest adopters of the flavors, formats, and menu innovations that eventually influence the broader restaurant landscape. By tracking these chains through the Datassential 500 and our innovation platforms, we're able to give operators, manufacturers, and industry leaders early visibility into the concepts and trends shaping what comes next."
Here are the first 10 emerging restaurant chains in the Datassential report.
- Toastique, 47 units, +119% 1-year growth
- Kyuramen, 46 units, +118% 1-year growth
- The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, 78 units, +84% 1-year growth
- The Peach Cobbler Factory, 115 units, +82% 1-year growth
- 7 Brew, 548 units, +78% 1-year growth
- KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot, 137 units, +76% 1-year growth
- Summer Moon Coffee, 68 units, +72% 1-year growth
- Parlor Doughnuts, 94 units, +66% 1-year growth
- Savvy Sliders, 52 units, +66% 1-year growth
- The Halal Shack, 46 units, +50% 1-year growth
To see all Top 25 Emerging Chains, click here.