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CAVA GREW SALES BY 22% IN 2025, LEADING THE MEDITERRANEAN NICHE. PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
FAST-CASUAL RESTAURANT SALES GROWTH COOLED IN 2025 Sales among the largest fast-casual chains grew 6% last year, a notable deceleration. But standout brands defying the slowdown included Shake Shack, Jersey Mike’s, Wingstop and Cava.
BY LISA JENNINGS S ales growth cooled considerably in the fast-casual restaurant chain segment in 2025, but it was a good year to be a Mediterranean or sandwich brand. Sales among fast-casual chains rose by 6% overall among the Top 500 Restaurant Chains to nearly $77 billion, according to Technom- ic. But that growth rate marked a noticeable deceleration from the fast-casual segment’s nearly 9% average growth rate over the last three years. Limited-service chains overall grew sales 3.1% to $361.5 billion last year, down from the 3.7% increase in 2024. Within that cate- gory, quick-service chains grew sales by 2.4%, which was roughly the same as the prior year. Unit growth among the limited-service Top 500 chains also slowed somewhat to 1.6% growth, compared with 1.9% the prior year. But fast-casual chains, meanwhile, grew their units by 5.1%, up from 4.8% unit growth in 2024. Among the Top 10 fast-casual chains, how- ever, it was Shake Shack that grew domestic sales the most last year, showing more than 15% growth with 420 domestic units, followed by Jersey Mike’s, which grew sales more than 12%. The sandwich chain’s unit count was up 8% to 3,227. Both Wingstop and Raising Cane’s also had double-digit sales increases. Wingstop also added more restaurants last year (net 382) than any other brand, increasing its unit count by 17% to 2,586. The slowdown in fast-casual sales overall is likely a result of consumers becoming more
discerning in their spending last year, which took a toll on some fast-casual chains—par- ticularly those deemed more expensive. Sweetgreen, for example, grew sales an anemic 0.4% last year, despite a 14% increase in unit count. Panera saw sales decline nearly 3% in 2025, despite 1% growth in units, and that’s on top of a 5% decline in sales in 2024. Panera was the only Top 10 fast-casual chain to see sales decline. In a podcast on America’s Favorite Chains, Robert Byrne, Technomic’s senior director of consumer research discussed the state of fast casuals, saying the segment is being squeezed by value plays between casual-dining—which is being rediscovered by a younger audience— and quick-service. The fast-casual segment has long been defined by higher quality food with conven - ience. But now all brands are convenient, Byrne said. “Digital ordering just eradicated that edge that anybody might have.” And consumers now see casual-dining chains, like Chili’s, as being as affordable as fast casual, except at Chili’s, guests can get a drink and desserts like molten chocolate cake, he noted. Fast casuals also tend to have customiz-
able menus. When guests make their bowls the way they want, that can add to the price, thereby hurting perceptions of value. Brands like Cava, however, have success- fully positioned as an everyday value. The 439-unit chain kept menu price increases to a minimum last year. Cava remains the leader among fast- casual Mediterranean concepts, riding a wave of 22% sales growth in 2025 and surpassing $1 billion in sales. And that rising tide lifted other boats in the niche. The 109-unit Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe grew sales more than 10%, to nearly $198 million, while 93-unit Nick the Greek was up more than 22%, and 83-unit Great Greek Mediterranean Grill topped 36% growth after adding 15 units last year. The 43-unit Lebanese shawarma concept Naya, meanwhile, grew sales nearly 41%, with an average unit volume of $2.47 million, nearing the $2.93 million AUV set by Cava. Meanwhile, the largest restaurant chains added a net of 3,400 locations last year, and almost half of that unit growth came from five brands (three of which are fast casual): Wingstop, Cinnabon, Chipotle, 7 Brew and Jersey Mike’s.
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RESTAURANT BUSINESS JULY 2026
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