Fast-Casual Sales Growing Faster than Overall Restaurant Sales

CHICAGOIt's not just the delivery that's fast; it's the growth rate, too, as sales in the top 150 fast-casual chains were up 8.4 percent to $21.5 billion in 2011, according to Technomic. The rate was up from 6.6 percent in 2010, and was significantly higher than the 3.5 percent sales growth by the top 500 U.S. chains posted in 2011.

The Chicago-based market research firm issued its "Fast-Casual Top 150 Chain Restaurant Report," expanding its reporting from 100 to 150 fast-casual chains, which were ranked by sales through monitoring and tracking more than 400 fast-casual brands. Total fast-casual units among Technomic's Fast-Casual Top 150 increased 5.2 percent to 17,447, and made up over three-quarters of the fast-causal industry's annual sales of $27 billion. The largest fast-casual segments and leaders in those segments were:

Technomic further called out the particularly strong 2011 sales growth rate for Panera Bread, at 10.1 percent growth, and Five Guys Burgers and Fries, which hit a huge 32.8 percent.

"Fast-casual operators continue to outshine every other segment within the U.S. restaurant industry," said Darren Tristano, executive vice president of Technomic. "Fast-casual restaurants fill the gap between quick service and casual dining. People want fast, fresh, quality meals at a fair price point. This segment seems to hit that sweet spot right now."

More information on the topic is available in a special report from the SupplySide Store, Foodservice Trends Report 2012, as well as in the Food Product Design Foodservice Content Library.