In this special report on restaurant traffic, NRN explores the challenging traffic environment for operators, the consumer “need states” brands must target to succeed, and the strategies of chains winning in this market-share game.

This is part of Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual Top 100 report, a proprietary census ranking the foodservice industry’s largest restaurant chains and companies by sales and unit data, among other metrics.

This is part of Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual Top 100 report, a proprietary census ranking the foodservice industry’s largest restaurant chains and companies by sales and unit data, among other metrics.

This is part of Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual Top 100 report, a proprietary census ranking the foodservice industry’s largest restaurant chains and companies by sales and unit data, among other metrics.

Customers rated their satisfaction with brands in recent Market Force Information survey, and Firehouse Subs, Raising Cane’s, Papa Murphy’s and Qdoba came out on top.

Anita Jones-Mueller, M.P.H., is a contributor to NRN and president and founder of Healthy Dining and HealthyDiningFinder.com.

Among the biggest rollouts were Little Caesars' deep-dish pizza and KFC's boneless chicken.

The chain adds the item to its menu nationwide for the first time

Andres is a former McDonald’s veteran with 30 years of experience