Industry Analysis Articles
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The Chicken Sandwich Wars Are Over. Here's What Won.
Popeyes lit the match in August 2019. Six years later, Chick-fil-A's systemwide sales have grown from $10.5 billion to $22.7 billion. McDonald's chicken became its fastest-growing protein. Popeyes itself still struggles with franchisee profitability. The war reshaped the entire $63.7 billion U.S. chicken QSR segment.
Why Tim Hortons Keeps Failing in the US (Despite Dominating Canada)
Tim Hortons has 4,000+ Canadian locations and 75% market share. In the US? Under 650 struggling stores. Here's what went wrong and why Canadian dominance doesn't translate south.
The Panda Express Franchise Myth: Why You Can't Buy One (And How They Actually Work)
Panda Express doesn't franchise in the US. Here's why the 2,400+ location chain stays company-owned, how they generate $2M+ AUV, and what this means for prospective franchisees.
Shake Shack vs Five Guys vs In-N-Out: Which Premium Burger Model Actually Wins?
All three charge $8-$12 for burgers, but their business models couldn't be more different. Here's which premium burger franchise is accessible, profitable, and worth the investment.
Why Raising Cane's Refuses to Franchise (And Why That's Brilliant)
Raising Cane's operates 700+ company-owned locations generating $3M+ AUV with zero franchises. Here's why the company-owned model delivers better results than franchising.
Chick-fil-A's Expansion Strategy: What Every Franchise Brand Can Learn
Chick-fil-A generates $9.3 million per location while closed every Sunday. How their operator selection, menu simplification, and unit-level focus create a model other franchise brands should study.
QSR Pro's Inaugural Power Rankings: The 25 Chains That Matter Most in 2026
The QSR landscape is splitting into winners and losers faster than ever. Our 2026 Power Rankings analyze three-year unit growth rates, same-store sales trajectories, and international expansion to rank the top 25 chains — and identify which brands are about to break out, which are treading water, and which are running out of time.
The Rise of Chicken: How Poultry Overtook Beef as America's Dominant QSR Protein
Chicken surpassed beef as America's most-consumed meat in 2010 and never looked back. Now, with USDA projections pointing to 102.7 pounds of broiler meat per capita in 2025 and chicken-focused chains posting the industry's most impressive growth numbers, the protein's dominance in quick service has become the defining story of modern fast food.
The Value Meal War: How McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's Are Fighting for America's Shrinking Fast-Food Dollar
As consumer price fatigue reshapes the quick-service landscape, McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's are deploying vastly different value strategies to win back traffic. The stakes couldn't be higher — with QSR foot traffic down 3.4% and grocery chains stealing market share, the $20 value meal has become the new battleground for America's burger giants.
The Regional Chain Advantage: Why Whataburger, Culver's, and Wawa Are Outperforming National Brands in Customer Satisfaction
Regional QSR chains like Culver's, Whataburger, and Wawa are delivering satisfaction scores that humiliate national incumbents — and their growth numbers are just as impressive. The 2025 ACSI data confirms what operators have long suspected: scale without soul is a losing strategy.
Starbucks Under New Management: How Brian Niccol's Chipotle Playbook Is Reshaping the World's Largest Coffee Chain
Brian Niccol arrived at Starbucks in September 2024 with a mandate to reverse four straight quarters of declining same-store sales. After a painful year of store closures, layoffs, and margin compression, his "Back to Starbucks" plan is beginning to show results — with the coffee chain posting its first traffic increase in two years in Q1 fiscal 2026.
How restaurant chains operate abroad
Starbucks, Chipotle and McDonald’s illustrate different operating arrangements.
Fast Casual Is Dead, Long Live Fast Casual: The Great QSR Convergence
Chipotle added drive-thrus. McDonald's added customization. The category distinction that defined restaurant investing for two decades is collapsing, and the brands that understand the convergence will win.
The 25 Fastest-Growing QSR Chains in America Right Now
While the restaurant industry is projected to grow just over 4% in 2025, a select group of quick-service chains is crushing that benchmark. These 25 brands are expanding at breakneck speed, opening hundreds of locations, and reshaping the competitive landscape through smart strategies, loyal...
Every Major QSR Chain Ranked by Customer Satisfaction in 2026
Customer satisfaction drives repeat visits, and repeat visits drive profit. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) has been measuring how QSR chains stack up for over a decade, and the 2025-2026 data reveals clear winners, persistent losers, and a few surprises.
Behind the Counter: Why Multi-Unit Operators Are Exiting Subway En Masse
Subway's multi-unit operators are selling, transferring, or simply walking away at rates not seen since the brand's early 2010s decline. Behind the exits: forced remodels, stagnant sales, and a growing sense that the Roark Capital playbook prioritizes brand value over operator profitability.
The Regional Chain Playbook: How Raising Cane's Plans to Triple Unit Count by 2030
Raising Cane's has gone from a single Baton Rouge location to 800+ units with a ruthlessly simple menu and company-owned model. Now it's targeting 1,500+ locations by 2030 — and the playbook for getting there challenges nearly every conventional franchise growth strategy.
Franchisee Advisory Councils: Powerless Theater or Genuine Influence?
Franchisee advisory councils sit at the intersection of democracy and brand control. Some have blocked major corporate initiatives. Others rubber-stamp decisions already made. Understanding the difference matters for every operator who wants a voice.
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