CONTENTS JULY 2025
EMERGING BRANDS FOR SNARF’S SANDWICHES FOUNDER JIMMY ‘SNARF’ SEIDEL, THE HARD WORK PAYS OFF.................................................................44 LOOK OUT FOR BUBBA’S 33, TEXAS ROADHOUSE’S FAST-GROWING, FREE- WHEELING SIBLING.......................................48
COVER STORY THE TECHNOMIC TOP 500: IN A TOUGH YEAR, CONSUMERS PLAYED FAVORITES......................................................14 SPECIAL REPORT THE TECHNOMIC TOP 500.............................18 THIS SOUP DUMPLING CHAIN HAS THE INDUSTRY’S HIGHEST AUVS, AND IT’S NOT EVEN CLOSE....................................................34
FINANCE THE FAST-CASUAL BURGER BUSINESS LOST STEAM LAST YEAR...........................................4 5 REASONS THE MCDONALD’S-KRISPY KREME PARTNERSHIP FAILED.....................................6 OPERATIONS CONSUMERS SAID &PIZZA’S MENU PRICES WERE TOO HIGH. THE CEO AGREED...........................................................8 WHY DAVE’S HOT CHICKEN WANTS TO BE THE NEXT WINGSTOP...................................10 MENU TOUS LES JOURS TAPS INTO TREAT CULTURE TO THRIVE IN A COMPETITIVE SEGMENT......................................................12
SOME INTERESTING RESTAURANT CHAINS DROPPED OFF THE TOP 500 THIS YEAR.......36
FAST-CASUAL WAS THE HAPPY PLACE IN 2024................................................................40
IN 2024, CASUAL DINING HIT THE RESET BUTTON..........................................................42
FROM OUR COLUMNISTS
THE BOTTOM LINE: IN THE FAST-FOOD WORLD, GROWTH IS COMING FROM DRINKS AND DESSERTS..............52 TECH CHECK: FOR THE RESTAURANT POS, SIGNS OF LIFE AFTER DEATH...............................................................54 BEHIND THE MENU: HOW RESTAURANTS ARE WINNING OVER GEN Z WINE DRINKERS WITH TASTINGS, TAP SYSTEMS AND TECH-FREE STORYTELLING..........................................................................................................56
Photo Courtesy of &Pizza Cover Photo Courtesy of Bartaco
JULY 2025 RESTAURANT BUSINESS
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