A thriving restaurant always satisfies, but which chains will rise to the top in twenty twenty five? Here's a look at the success stories ahead.
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00:00A thriving restaurant always satisfies, but which chains will rise to the top in 2025?
00:05Here's a look at the success stories ahead.
00:08What started as a humble pop-up in a Los Angeles parking lot has transformed into a global
00:12restaurant powerhouse.
00:14Dave's Hot Chicken, originally just a tent and portable kitchen, now boasts locations
00:18across the U.S., Canada, and even Qatar.
00:21Looking ahead to 2025, the brand is set to accelerate its growth even further with an
00:25impressive 950 new locations in the pipeline.
00:29A key focus of this expansion is the U.K., where 60 stores are already planned, marking
00:33the company's first major step into the European market.
00:37While the Nashville hot chicken craze may have peaked in the late 2010s and early 2020s,
00:42Dave's Hot Chicken has not only survived, but thrived, solidifying itself as one of
00:46the biggest and most recognizable names in the hot chicken scene.
00:49With its bold expansion plans, the chain is positioned to continue dominating in 2025
00:55and beyond.
00:57Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers keeps its menu simple, but what truly distinguishes
01:01it is the focus on delivering higher quality versions of classic fast food items, setting
01:06it apart from the competition.
01:07It's all about superior taste and craftsmanship, not complexity.
01:11A steakburger is not really what you think it is.
01:14I didn't know that it's the most delicious thing in the world."
01:17Founded in 2002, Freddy's isn't a newcomer to the fast food world, but it's gearing up
01:22for substantial growth.
01:23In 2024, the brand plans to open 65 new locations, building on the 62 openings in 2023.
01:30While there's no official target for 2025 yet, Freddy's has committed to reaching 550
01:36locations in the near future, indicating the chain will likely continue expanding at its
01:39current pace.
01:40This means 2025 will likely bring even more of Freddy's signature high-quality burgers
01:45and frozen custard to new markets, strengthening its presence in the fast food landscape.
01:50In mid-2024, Tropical Smoothie Cafe was acquired by private equity firm Blackstone for around
01:56$2 billion, a testament to the brand's growing success.
01:59With this new ownership, the chain is poised for even more aggressive expansion.
02:03Back in 2019, Tropical Smoothie Cafe set a goal to reach 1,500 locations by 2025.
02:09By August 2024, the chain had already hit 1,400 stores and was planning to add 950 more
02:15locations, following a strong 2023 with 176 new openings.
02:21Even if the chain doesn't reach 950 new stores in 2025, adding just 100 more would still
02:26put it on track to meet its original goal.
02:29In addition to its expansion plans, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is working on ways to cater
02:33to more budget-conscious customers, though the specifics of these changes haven't been
02:37fully revealed yet.
02:38It's expected that a menu revamp could be part of the strategy.
02:42As one of the fastest-growing chains in 2025, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is set to not only
02:47expand its footprint significantly but potentially evolve in new ways as it strives to meet growing
02:52customer demands and refine its offerings.
02:55In 2019, Slim Chickens operated just 84 locations, but the chain has come a long way since then.
03:01By early 2024, the brand had grown to around 250 restaurants and was on track to open 70
03:07more that year.
03:08According to a QSR Magazine report, Slim Chickens now targets 1,000 domestic locations
03:13and 500 international ones.
03:15The chain's expansion is continuing at a rapid pace, with plans for over 1,200 total stores
03:20in the works.
03:21A blog post by investor TenPoint Capital in October 2024 confirmed the company's momentum,
03:27noting strong performance and steady growth.
03:29Heading into 2025, Slim Chickens has firmly established itself as one of the fastest-growing
03:34restaurant chains, no longer just a Southern favorite but a rising national brand.
03:39Small Sliders may not be the first chain to focus on mini-burgers, but its innovative
03:43approach to franchising sets it apart.
03:46Known for their cans, Small's locations are prefabricated from shipping containers and
03:50placed on available real estate, offering a unique and cost-effective way to expand.
03:55In July 2024, the company announced plans to bring these cans to 21 states, further
04:00fueling its growth.
04:01While Small Sliders had just 19 locations open by late 2024, the chain has ambitious
04:07goals, with 290 locations either already operating or in development.
04:12This rapid expansion and unconventional model could help Small Sliders stand out and thrive
04:16where others have struggled.
04:18We're gonna look back and we're gonna go, wow, this is incredible."
04:21Several franchisees are already planning multiple Small Sliders locations, such as a pair in
04:26North Carolina targeting nine restaurants.
04:29With the can model speeding up construction timelines, Small Sliders is primed for rapid
04:33expansion.
04:34By 2025, we could see a significant surge in its U.S. presence, making it one of the
04:39fastest-growing chains.
04:40While Bojangles is a beloved regional chain in the southeastern U.S., its recognition
04:45doesn't always extend beyond those areas.
04:47For example, North Carolina residents have no shortage of Bojangles locations, while
04:52someone in Colorado might not even be familiar with the brand.
04:55However, that's set to change as Bojangles aims for broader national expansion in 2025.
05:01According to a 2024 corporate release, Bojangles opened 40 new locations, with 10 of those
05:06entering markets previously untouched by the brand.
05:09In total, the chain plans to add 270 new restaurants, marking a significant step toward nationwide
05:15recognition.
05:16A major part of this growth is Bojangles' expansion into Las Vegas, where 20 locations
05:20are planned by 2025.
05:22It's in a city that, as of late 2024, had zero Bojangles restaurants.
05:27The chain is also venturing into Western U.S. travel hubs, with plans to open stores at
05:3110 travel centers of America truck stops.
05:34While exact locations are still under wraps, these efforts signal that Bojangles is ready
05:38to become a national player.
05:40Bonchan, a top U.S. chain known for Korean fried chicken, is capitalizing on the growing
05:45popularity of the dish.
05:46With over 450 locations globally and more than 140 in the U.S., the brand is poised
05:52for significant expansion in 2025, increasing its footprint across the country and solidifying
05:57its position in the fast-casual scene.
06:00Best Korean food I've ever had."
06:02In November 2024, QSR Magazine highlighted Bonchan's remarkable growth in Q3, marking
06:08a record-setting period for the chain.
06:10While the company opened 25 new U.S. locations in 2024, it plans to nearly double that figure
06:16in 2025.
06:17By Q3 2024, Bonchan had already secured agreements for 16 new restaurants, expanding across 10
06:24states.
06:25Looking ahead, the brand has set an ambitious goal to reach 500 U.S. locations within the
06:29next five years.
06:30With a strong 2025 planned, Bonchan is poised to make significant strides toward becoming
06:35a major player in the fast-casual scene.
06:38First Watch, a premium sit-down chain known for its brunch offerings, is experiencing
06:43impressive growth.
06:44By the end of 2024, the brand expects to have around 570 locations, with plans to expand
06:50even further in the years ahead.
06:51During a Q3 2024 earnings call, CEO Chris Tommaso revealed that the company aims to
06:57grow by at least 10 percent annually.
06:59As part of this strategy, First Watch plans to open 120 new locations, with the majority
07:04of them slated for 2025 and 2026.
07:08This includes an estimated 60 new restaurants in 2025 alone.
07:12Looking ahead, First Watch has set an ambitious long-term goal of reaching 2,200 locations.
07:17The company's rapid expansion in 2025 will be a major milestone in its years-long plan
07:22to become a dominant force in the brunch and breakfast dining scene.
07:26In June 2023, a TikTok video by the Costco Guys featured Costco's sister Ashley promoting
07:32Playa Bowls, a restaurant located in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey.
07:36While Playa Bowls started as a local favorite, it has since expanded to over 250 locations
07:41across 24 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
07:45Playa Bowls had a strong 2024 and is poised for even greater growth in 2025.
07:51According to Chain Store Age, the chain plans to open 75 new locations in 2024, significantly
07:57boosting its footprint.
07:58Looking ahead, Playa Bowls has over 300 more stores in the pipeline, with notable expansions
08:03planned for new markets like Dallas, Texas, and deeper penetration into New York.
08:08With an ambitious growth plan and a proven track record, Playa Bowls is set to become
08:12one of the biggest success stories in the restaurant world by 2025.
08:16Its rapid expansion across diverse regions positions it as a major player in the fast-casual
08:21sector, catering to a growing demand for healthier, customizable bowl-based meals.
08:26While Subway was a pioneer, Chipotle truly defined the fast-casual dining model, allowing
08:31customers to customize meals as they're made.
08:34Kava takes a similar approach, offering Mediterranean-inspired rice bowls, salads, and pita wraps.
08:40With customers embracing the build-your-own style, particularly for Greek-inspired dishes,
08:44Kava is poised for major expansion in the coming years.
08:47"'Kava' shares have been on a tear, hitting a record high today, more than doubling in
08:51six months."
08:52By June 2024, Kava had reached 323 locations, according to QSR Magazine.
08:58A standout was a Chicago branch that far surpassed sales projections, highlighting a clear opportunity
09:03to accelerate expansion.
09:05While Kava's specific 2025 growth plans are still being finalized, the brand is on a strong
09:10trajectory.
09:11After opening 72 new restaurants in 2023 and 50 more in 2024, Kava aims to reach 1,000
09:17locations by 2032.
09:19Given its rapid pace of expansion, the goal appears achievable, and anyone without a Kava
09:24in their area can likely expect to see one soon.
09:27Salad & Go, a drive-thru salad chain, has developed an innovative model that's fueling
09:31its rapid growth.
09:33Unlike traditional restaurants, Salad & Go relies on centrally located commissaries to
09:37handle most of its food preparation, allowing individual locations to focus on assembly
09:42and serving.
09:43This approach might seem like a limitation, but each commissary is capable of supporting
09:47up to 400 stores.
09:49With just two commissaries — one in Dallas and one in Phoenix — the chain has already
09:53expanded into states like Nevada and Oklahoma.
09:56In 2024, Salad & Go is set to open new locations in California, Kansas, and Arkansas, as well
10:02as a southern expansion around Atlanta.
10:04With an average of one new location opening each week in 2023, the chain is poised to
10:09maintain this momentum throughout 2024.
10:11The company has set its sights on eventually opening thousands of locations across the
10:15U.S., and with its streamlined, commissary-based model, Salad & Go is on track to become a
10:20national force in fast-casual dining.
10:23If the current pace holds, 2025 could mark the year Salad & Go truly takes off.
10:28Qdoba, the Mexican fast-casual chain, is undergoing a major revival following its 2022 acquisition
10:34by Butterfly Equity.
10:36This shift has sparked significant changes for the brand, earning recognition from Franchise
10:40Times as the 2024 Deal of the Year.
10:43After opening 14 new locations in 2023 and around another 50 in 2024, Qdoba plans to
10:49continue to expand, and by the end of 2025, the company expects to open 70 more units.
10:55Currently operating around 750 locations, Qdoba is poised to surpass 1,000 by 2027.
11:02With this rapid expansion underway, Qdoba is set to gain a much larger national presence
11:07in 2025 and beyond, marking a new chapter for the established brand.