Top indie trends
Restaurants in this year’s Top 100 Independents ranking brought in a combined $1.8 billion last year.
5 Hot Markets in Asia
With a crowded, competitive restaurant market in the U.S., many operations have headed overseas to drive their growth.
In today’s hypercompetitive restaurant industry, the slightest edge can make a difference. The ideas collected here range from small tweaks such as dedicated gum-disposal slips to transformational changes such as solar-powered restaurants. But each one has the potential to make a positive impact for operators.
Which industry trends are gaining traction? What's garnering consumer interest? These emerging chains are the growth vehicles to watch—the ones poised to be major industry players in the coming years. The fastest-growing small chains in America represent a mixed bag of trends, but they have one thing in common: impressive growth in both sales and unit count.