From Sweetgreen going all-in on an app, subscription and loyalty program; to Subway’s new MVP rewards program—loyalty got a major upgrade this year

We’ve arrived at our final Top 500 analysis of 2023, a look at the limited-service restaurant chains that don’t fit neatly into established segments (salad/healthful, pizza, Mexican, dessert/snack, chicken, burger, bakery/café, coffee, or sandwich...

Plus innovation at Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer, Blimpie, Bolay, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, California Pizza Kitchen, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Carvel, Cava, Dog Haus, Friendly’s , Graze Craze , Gregory’s...

Plus innovation at BurgerFi, Carvel, Chicken Salad Chick, Creamistry, Fajita Pete’s, Friendly’s, Golden Chick, Hamburger Stand, Mooyah, Noodles & Company, Panda Express, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, PizzaForno, Pressed, Smokey Bones, Velvet Taco...

Plus innovation from Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Cicis, Einstein Bros Bagels, Fatburger, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, Krispy Kreme, Little Caesars, Mendocino Farms, Panda Express...

Plus innovation at Clean Juice, Dunkin’, Flame Broiler, Fogo de Chão, Little Caesars, Papa John’s, Panera, Pollo Campero, Starbird, Studio Movie Grill, Taco Bell, Tacodeli, Velvet Taco and Yogurtland