CHICAGO — Just when you thought better burgers had reached a peak in sales, Chicago’s Technomic has released data showing fast-casual burger chains grew sales by 20.8 per cent in the U.S. last year, and there’s still room for growth.
So far, fast-casual sales are only 3.2 per cent of limited-service restaurant (LSR) burger-segment sales, according to Technomic. “A number of celebrity chefs have opened concepts that focus on burgers made with premium ingredients, helping to raise their profile,” says Darren Tristano, EVP of Technomic. “Plus, the segment includes some of the rising stars of the industry overall.” Smashburger, for example, grew sales by more than 71 per cent in 2011, and Five Guys Burgers and Fries increased sales by 24 per cent.Technomic developed “Market Intelligence Report: Better Burgers” to show operators and supplier opportunities within the segment. Among other findings, the report shows quick-service chains have bumped up the quality of their burgers, customers place a premium on the quality of their burger, cheeseburgers reign supreme on the LSR menu and menu customization is key.
For more details, visit technomic.com.
