QSR Magazine Releases 2017 Ranking of Top 50 Limited-Service Restaurant Brands

On December 15, 2017, in Fast Food Footnotes, by Maggie Ernst

QSR magazine has released its 2017 QSR 50 report focusing on the 50 brands that rise above the rest in the $234 billion limited-service restaurant industry.  In the 50 ranking, McDonald’s was voted number one, followed by Starbucks.

The complete QSR report is available here https://www.qsrmagazine.com/reports/2017-qsr-50?page=3

In the chicken category, the top five rankings are as follows:

  1. Chick-fil-A
  2. KFC
  3. Popeyes
  4. Zaxby’s
  5. Bojangles.

Chick-fil-A: a quick-service concept with just over 2,000 locations that are closed on Sundays, enjoyed an average unit volume above $4 million last year. This unprecedented number speaks to the brand’s incredible fan affinity, which continues to spread as Chick-fil-A opens in more markets. Surely the top-shelf customer service plays a role, as do new menu items like Frosted Strawberry Lemonade, the Superfood Side, and the Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Sandwich.

 

KFC: The last few years were not looking so great for KFC. But with the recent Colonel Sanders marketing campaign, new store prototype, and fresh menu innovations under its wing, the chicken chain might finally have turned things around.

Popeyes: has been on a tear ever since it rebranded in 2008, with much of the thanks owed to CEO Cheryl Bachelder and her vision for the company. Bachelder is now gone, though; many of the company’s leaders departed after Popeyes was acquired by Burger King and Tim Hortons parent company Restaurant Brands International earlier this yearZaxby’s: has spread its wings across the country and established itself as the pre-eminent chicken fast casual, the company has embedded itself into sports fans’ collective consciousness. Its “Fanz of Flavor” Interactive Tailgate Experience visited several college campuses during last year’s NCAA football season.
Zaxby’s has spread its wings across the country and established itself as the pre-eminent chicken fast casual.  The company has embedded itself into sports fans’ collective consciousness.  Its “Fanz of Flavor” Ineractive Tailgate Experience visited several college campuses during last year’s NCAA football season.

Bojangles: is already a favorite in the south and is taking its famed chicken biscuits further north, with expansion planned for the Mid-Atlantic states. The company’s new store prototype adds some modern flourishes, including a “Biscuit Theater” that showcases where the magic happens.

CATEGORY RANKsort descending COMPANY QSR 50 RANK 2016 U.S. SYSTEMWIDE SALES (MILLIONS) 2016 U.S. AVERAGE SALES PER UNIT (THOUSANDS) NUMBER OF FRANCHISED UNITS IN 2016 NUMBER OF COMPANY UNITS IN 2016 TOTAL UNITS IN 2016 TOTAL CHANGE IN UNITS FROM 2015
1 Chick-fil-A 8 7,973.50 4,407.10 1,730 372 2,102 119
2 KFC 13 4,483.30 1,060.00 3,966 201 4,167 -103
3 Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen* 20 3,140.30 1,488.00 2,029 55 2,084 77
4 Zaxby’s* 25 1,891.98 2,318.60 677 139 816 91
5 Bojangles’ 28 1,229.48 1,818.43 407 309 716 54
6 Wingstop 30 943.30 1,113.00 977 21 998 153
7 Church’s Chicken 35 800.27 724.00 838 238 1,076 -55
8 El Pollo Loco 36 795.44 1,988.00 259 201 460 27
9 Boston Market* 42 659.16 1,426.74 5 457 462 4

*INCLUDES FIGURES ESTIMATED BY QSR.

 



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