Wing Stop is flying high with a concept that does 75 percent to 80 percent of its sales in takeout and 92 percent from three items — wings, fries and beverages — out of kitchens that measure 600 sq. ft.
Currently in a major growth mode, Jersey Mike's opened 50 stores in 2010, projects opening more than 65 locations this year and will hit the 500-site mark by the end of 2011. This is telling for a sub concept that got its start back in 1956 as a humble seaside sandwich store in Point Pleasant, N.J.
Breakfast, lunch or dinner — and a dance — that's the new concept from the owners of the popular Bar Bambino café and wine bar in San Francisco.
Less than five years after launching its "smash. sizzle. savor." next-gen burger concept, Smashburger in May celebrated the milestone opening of its 100th unit. By year's end, the company expects to almost double in size again and be operating in 30 to 35 markets nationwide.
Circle the wagons, slash prices and hold on tight? Not these chains. Coming off of the toughest operating environment in recent memory, companies now solidly in positive territory and positioned to prosper as the turnaround takes hold are those that spent the past couple of years innovating, shaking up their menus and concepts, and making strategic moves to create new opportunities for growth.
Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt has been on the cutting edge of its segment since the brand got off the ground in 1983. "You haven't seen anything yet," says Roger Clawson, Golden Spoon's franchising CEO. "In the next six months, we will revolutionize the frozen yogurt category."
Fresh-baked bagels and "darn good" coffee may be what brought Einstein Bros. to the top of its niche, but the company's focus on product innovation is helping to keep it there. Einstein has positioned its traditional bagel bakery concept as much more than bagels, building a menu of on-trend breakfast, lunch and specialty beverage options that satisfy consumers' lifestyle and nutrition demands.
Walk in to a FREEBIRDS World Burrito for the first time and you just might be hit with sensory overload. The concept, founded in 1987 and acquired by the Tavistock Restaurant Group in 2007, is all about providing a way-different sort of fast-casual dining experience.
As part of McDonald's $1 billion makeover, yellow and neutral tones will replace the famed red roofs, vinyl-covered chairs and wooden tables will replace the steel and fiberglass, and earth tones with splashes of red and yellow throughout will replace the once super bright, almost neon color scheme.
Think stodgy when you think Sizzler? Think again. The 53-year-old steak and salad bar chain has recently made big moves to contemporize its menu, its look and feel, even the ways it goes to market. It's all part of a recently launched turnaround strategy designed to bring the chain back into action as a compelling fast-casual choice.
Expanding beverage menu offerings could satisfy the current increase in customer demand for blended drinks and boost bottom lines, according to a new study conducted by Harris Interactive and commissioned by Vitamix.
Saladworks has tossed together a fresh concept that during the past two years has kicked off national expansion, unveiled a new look, expanded its array of toppings, switched out its beverage program, and tackled new product development that fits its "tossed to order" service model.
When a chain restaurant with a healthy concept seeks out non-traditional locations, the result is a win-win. At least this is the case with Newton, Mass.-based UFood Grill, which has four company-owned locations and four franchised sites.
Dickey's Barbecue Pit is getting bigger in part by going smaller. With the format sights set on becoming the largest barbecue chain in the country (it's already the largest quick-service barbecue chain), Dickey's has kicked off an aggressive expansion drive with a smaller, more streamlined prototype.
A good idea should not go to waste; instead it should be franchised. This was the impetus behind the growth of Tempe, Ariz.-based Tilted Kilt, which has grown from one location to 53 in the six years since Ron Lynch joined the company as operating franchise president.
Billing itself as an "artisanal Mexican kitchen," Qdoba has grown to more than 500 units and secured its position as a major force in the fast-casual restaurant segment.
Upgrades are the name of the game in 2011 for Ridgeland, Miss.-based McAlister's Deli. The 304-unit chain is revamping its equipment package to maximize efficiency and speed of service and ingredients to focus on providing a more upscale product.
One of the challenges any restaurant chain faces is fighting for locations. Dallas-based Pizza Patrón has found that creating a variety of business models not only generates site opportunities, but also increases profit potential.
While many chains continue to downsize their footprints, 57-year-old Straw Hat Pizza takes the opposite route. A new prototype features bigger stores with a contemporary look and feel, a bigger, more diverse menu, and in-restaurant Tower 27 frozen yogurt stations — a whole new self-serve branded "concept within a concept" that's helping to drive incremental sales growth.
Auntie Anne's celebrates the simple pretzel in a wide range of sweet, savory and surprising ways. It's a formula that's given rise to one of the largest fresh, hand-rolled pretzel companies in the world since its founding in 1988 by Anne and Jonas Beiler.
