Karachi: The most famous fast-food restaurants are burger joints: McDonald’s (MCD), Wendy’s (WEN), Burger King (BKW). But Americans have been in the mood for something different lately, and many of the trendiest quick-serve restaurants indulge that desire for variety, novelty and healthier eating.
Like other parts of the lackluster economy, restaurant industry sales have been growing slowly. So new chains hoping to become the next Five Guys or Chipotle (CMG) have garnered attention with standout food, flashy preparation and an eye-catching atmosphere. It also doesn’t hurt, of course, if a meal seems like a bargain.
To identify some of the most promising up-and-coming fast-food chains, Yahoo! Finance teamed with Technomic, a Chicago food-industry research firm that tracks more than 2,000 chains. Technomic sorted its data to highlight firms with annual sales between $3 million and $25 million and more than 10 outlets at the end of 2012. Among those, here are the fastest-growing chains that could open near you before long:
Cups Frozen Yogurt
Cups Frozen Yogurt (12 locations in New Jersey and New York, according to the company Web site; 400% annual growth in the number of outlets). The yogurt gets good reviews but the buzz comes from pounding music, a nightclub ambiance and arresting female staffers who have led some customers to dub this chain “the Hooters of froyo.” Check the name (and the logo) for double entendre.
Let’s Go Yogurt
Let’s Go Yogurt (29 locations in Florida, New Jersey and Massachusetts; 285% growth rate). It’s not dessert, it’s a “yogurt experience,” with flavors such as Zeusberry Greek and Ooey Gooey Cinnamon Bun. While yogurt may not seem like traditional fast food, it’s one of the hottest trends among quick-serve restaurants.
BurgerFi
BurgerFi (20 locations in Florida, Georgia and nearly a dozen other states; 250% growth rate). Taking on the established burger chains requires something special, which in this case is “all-natural grass-fed beef” meant to taste like a premium steak on a bun. Veggie burgers are also on the menu. And to convince you that it’s not McDonald’s, BurgerFi also includes furniture made from recycled products in all its stores, along with huge ceiling fans meant to cut down on electricity use.
100 Montaditos
100 Montaditos (10 locations in south Florida; 233% annual growth rate). This is a popular European chain that offers authentic tapas-sized sandwiches and other Spanish fare. It’s a hit with Hispanics but offers anybody a flavorful alternative when you’re tired of Subway footlongs. Beer and wine goes for as little as $2. Bring on the siesta.
The Melt
The Melt (15 locations in California; 150% growth rate). The grilled cheese and soup combo has timeless appeal, especially when made with fancy ingredients such as fontina, aged cheddar, short ribs, Portobello mushrooms and artisanal bread. Techie touches, such as mobile ordering and digital screens showing the status of your order, enrapture hipsters.
Little Greek Restaurant
Little Greek Restaurant (12 locations in Florida and Texas; 120% growth rate). The Mediterranean diet is a hit, so fast-food chains capitalizing on that healthy appeal seem like a natural. “We think this category is going to take off,” says Darren Tristano, executive vice president at Technomic.
The Veggie Grill
The Veggie Grill (19 locations on the West Coast; 100%growth rate). There are several burgers on the menu but none made of meat. Sides include kale, red-cabbage coleslaw and vegetarian chili.
Umami Burger
Umami Burger (16 locations in California and Florida; 100% growth rate). This upscale chain sells burgers infused with an Asian vibe and topped with delicacies such as truffle glaze, shiitake mushrooms and carmelized onions. Expect to spend two or three times what McDonald’s would charge.
Piada Italian Street Food
Piada Italian Street Food (10 locations in Ohio; 100% growth rate). Imagine a Chipotle-style assembly line with Italian ingredients instead of Mexican ones: calamari, pancetta, pomodoro sauce and eggplant caponata, to name a few. Drinks include Peroni beer and Bellinis.
Fresh Healthy Cafe
Fresh Healthy Café (16 locations in California, Colorado and several other states; 85% growth rate). The name might not be imaginative but it captures what many diners want in a meal these days — even a quick, inexpensive one. If smoothies and salads don’t sound healthy enough, try the fresh-squeezed wheatgrass juice or the quinoa-kale wrap. “Detox. Cleanse. Purify. Protect,” the company’s Web site urges. This is definitely not your father’s fast food.
