While Nation’s Restaurant News highlights its 2016 class of Breakout Brands, we also checked in to see how past classes have been performing. We said that these chains were positioned to grow. So did they? Yes.
Overall, the classes of 2014 and 2015 together had an average growth of 42 percent in the year after they were recognized as Breakout Brands. Only two of the 20 Breakout Brand chains in these classes had negative unit growth.
Comfort food concepts topped the growth lists. Ice cream sandwich chain Cream grew its eight stores to 23 since last February — a 188-percent increase. And the fast-casual grilled cheese and tomato soup concept Tom + Chee took its 9 units up to 35 in the last two years, a whopping 289-percent growth.
Below, see how the classes of 2014 and 2015 have fared since they were named Breakout Brands.
The 2015 Breakout Brands
— Data compiled by Alan J. Liddle
