The world's largest restaurant chain by unit count is losing its most experienced operators — and the reasons go deeper than foot traffic
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...
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.
The line between quick service and fast casual is disappearing — and that changes everything about how the industry competes
Starbucks, Chipotle and McDonald’s illustrate different operating arrangements.
Eighteen months into his tenure, the former Chipotle CEO has closed 600 stores, cut 2,000 corporate jobs, and finally delivered the traffic growth Wall Street has been waiting for
While McDonald's languishes at the bottom of satisfaction rankings, regional powerhouses are proving that disciplined growth, owner-operator culture, and geographic identity are the real competitive moats in QSR.
With traffic declining and middle-income consumers fleeing to grocery stores, the Big Three burger chains are locked in the most aggressive value battle since the dollar menu era
From Chick-fil-A's $22 billion empire to Raising Cane's explosive expansion, chicken has reshaped the quick-service landscape — and the transformation is accelerating
A data-driven ranking of the top 25 quick-service chains by unit growth, same-store sales trajectory, and breakout potential — plus our predictions for who crosses 5,000 units by 2030
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.
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.