Top Fast Casual

Restaurants in

Limited Service

Segment

One of the original bakery cafe concepts,

specializing in sandwiches, salads and breads baked

fresh daily for all dayparts

Industry Overview

Ownership Parent Company Primary Distributor Produce Distributor POS Provider

Head Office Rank Average Check Segment Cuisine Type

Public Panera Bread Company Sygma Self- Distributing XPIENT

St. Louis, Missouri 11 $10.27 Fast Casual Bakery/Cafe

4,000-4,500 square feet

Seat 90-100 patrons plus patios

Freestanding, inline, endcap

In major markets, small cities and suburbs

Deli and panini sandwiches

Pasta, salad, soup

Pick-two combos

Bagels, breads, baked goods

Concept Characteristics and Business Strategy

2006 - Bought a Stake in Paradise Bakery : In 2006, Panera agreed to purchase a 51% stake in the 44-unit Paradise Bakery & Cafe

chain for $21 million; the deal was completed in early 2007

1999 - Sold Au Bon Pain Co. : In 1999, stockholders of Au Bon Pain Co. approved the sale of its flagship Au Bon Pain brand. Upon

completion of the deal, the new parent of Panera/Saint Louis Bread became Panera Bread Co.

1993 - Renamed as Panera Bread : Following a “re-staging” of Saint Louis Bread Co., the stores changed their name to Panera

Bread

1993 - Bought Saint Louis Bread Company : In 1993, the company purchased a chain of bakery cafes in the St. Louis area called

Saint Louis Bread Company

1981 - Founded : Panera Bread got its start in 1981 as Au Bon Pain Co. under the leadership of Louis Kane and Ron Shaich

Key Events

System Characteristics

A hip Mexican chain that transformed the fast-casual

industry with its customizable, made-to-order

Mexican fare

Industry Overview

Ownership Parent Company Primary Distributor Produce Distributor POS Provider

Head Office Rank Average Check Segment Cuisine Type

Public Chipotle Mex. Grill Inc.. Mile Hi Foods Mile Hi Foods Aloha POS

Denver, Colorado 15 $11.47 Fast Casual Mexican

1,600-2,600 square feet; seat 95 guests

Freestanding, inline units

Open kitchen

Assembly-line-style ordering process

Burritos, tacos, salads, bean/rice bowls

Naturally raised chicken, beef, pork; tofu

Locally grown hormone-free ingredients

Chips and guacamole

Concept Characteristics and Business Strategy

Key Events

2013 - Pledged to Eliminate GMOs : Chipotle listed on its website products that contain GMOs (genetically modified organisms)

that are currently in use in its stores, and it pledged to elimate the use of GMOs in its supply chain

2011 - Launched the ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen Concept : The company launched a fast-casual concept similar to

Chipotle that offers customizable Asian fare, in Washington, DC.

2011 - Utilized Premium Ingredients Storewide : Chipotle was using naturally raised and hormone-free chicken, beef and pork at

all of its restaurants, something it had begun doing in 2002.

2010 - Opened First International Unit : Chipotle opened its first unit outside of North America in London.

2007 - Logo and Signage Redesign : The company returned to its original name, Chipotle Mexican Grill, after a redesign of its

logo and signage

2006 - Went Public : Chipotle went public when McDonald’s spun off 35% of the chain. McDonald’s divested the rest of its stake

later that year

2001 - Dropped "Mexican Grill" from Its Name

1999 - McDonald's Increased Investment : McDonald’s increased its investment to more than 51%

1998 - McDonald's Corp. Minority Investment : In 1998, McDonald’s Corp. made a minority investment in the concept

1993 - Founded - Denver: Steve Ells opened the first Chipotle Mexican Grill near the University of Colorado campus in Denver

System Characteristics

A leading fast-casual Asian chain, known for its

varied Chinese fare and fast service

Industry Overview

Ownership Parent Company Primary Distributor Produce Distributor POS Provider

Head Office Rank Average Check Segment Cuisine Type

Private Panda Restaurant Gp. Sygma Sygma XPIENT

Rosemead, CA 29 $11.36 Fast Casual Asian/Noodle

800-2,600 square feet

Seat 30-50 patrons

Freestanding, inline units

Nontraditional units in malls, airports

Beef, chicken, seafood stir-fries

Chow mein, veggies, rice

Egg rolls, pot stickers, fortune cookies

Healthy menu

Concept Characteristics and Business Strategy

2009 - Added Healthy Items : Panda Express began marking healthy items with servings that measure 250 calories or less on its

menu with a Wok Smart symbol

2001 - Stake in FoodBrand LLC Purchased : Panda Restaurant Group bought a 40% ownership stake in FoodBrand LLC, a wholly

owned subsidiary of Mills Corp., a shopping-center developer

1983 - Founded : Andrew Cherng and his father, Master Ming Tsai Cherng, founded Panda Management in 1973 and opened

Panda Inn dinner house. The company opened the first Panda Express and Andrew’s wife, Peggy, joined the company

Key Events

System Characteristics

High-quality submarine sandwiches served “freaky

fast”

Industry Overview

Ownership Parent Company Primary Distributor Produce Distributor POS Provider

Head Office Rank Average Check Segment Cuisine Type

Private Jimmy John’s Sysco Roins Produce Co. PDQ

Champaign, IL 36 $9.36 Fast Casual Sandwich

1993 - Franchising Began

1983 - Founded - Charleston, IL: Jimmy John Liautaud founded Jimmy John's in 1983 near the Eastern Illinois University campus in

Charleston, IL

Key Events

System Characteristics

Made-to-order wings paired with signature sauces in

a fun, upscale environment

Industry Overview

Ownership Parent Company Primary Distributor Produce Distributor POS Provider

Head Office Rank Average Check Segment Cuisine Type

Private Zaxby’s Performance Food Gp Performance Food Gp MICROS

Athens, Georgia 41 $10.35 Fast Casual Chicken

3,300 square feet, 85-95 guests

Freestanding buildings

Memorabilia-covered walls

Artfully designed dining area

Chicken wings, tenders, sandwiches

About 10 signature sauces

Fries, chips, onion rings

Combo meals, party platters

Concept Characteristics and Business Strategy

Key Events

2012 - Introduced New Prototype : The new 3,785-square-foot prototype was reminiscent of a rural farmhouse, featuring a drive-

thru window and seating for 90

2001 - Reached 100 Units

1994 - Began Franchising

1990 - Founded - Statesboro, GA: Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley founded Zaxby's in Statesboro, GA, in 1990

System Characteristics

No-frills menu of signature burgers topped with any

combo of 15 free toppings

Industry Overview

Ownership Parent Company Primary Distributor Produce Distributor POS Provider

Head Office Rank Average Check Segment Cuisine Type

Private Five Guys US. Foods US. Foods ParTech

Lorton, Virginia 43 $13.67 Fast Casual Burger

2,000-3,000-square-foot endcaps, 40-75 guests

Chalkboard announces daily potato origin

Displays potato crates and peanut-oil containers

Offers free peanuts during wait

USDA beef burgers cooked well

15 available burger toppings

Hot dogs, sandwiches

Fries cooked in peanut oil

Concept Characteristics and Business Strategy

2003 - Began Franchising : Five Guys began franchising with the assistance of Fransmart in 2003

1986 - Founded - Arlington, VA: Five Guys was founded by Jerry and Jane Murrell and their five sons in Arlington, VA, in 1986

Key Events

System Characteristics

AMIT KUMAR DASProgram Manager, CapgeminiE-mail id: amit.b.das@capgemini.com

SOURCES:www.qsrweb.comwww.technomic.comwww.panerabread.comwww.chipotle.comwww.pandaexpress.comwww.jimmyjohns.comwww.zaxbys.comwww.fiveguys.com