CHICAGO, October 30, 2025 — The restaurant sector of the food-away-from-home industry has undergone profound changes since the pandemic faded into history. Think of delivery’s sales contribution, or how chicken tenders and sandwiches now rival burgers as the signature product of the quick-service market.
How well have you kept up on the transformation?
Here’s your chance to see. The Datassential 500 provides a detailed analysis of who’s growing and who’s slowing in the U.S. chain restaurant market. The annual report looks in detail at 16 chain segments and how each is faring as consumer preferences change. That detailed information is then further parsed to reveal the fastest-growing brands within each sector.
The food-away-from-home industry abounds in sales rankings, but few provide the granular details of the Datassential 500. For one thing, it ranks the chain markets by systemwide size and growth as well as sales, providing suppliers with a list of their choicest prospects.
The listing also takes into account consumer perceptions of the brands, a strong indicator of future growth.
The Datassential 500 is a key product of the well-known researcher, traditionally available only to paid subscribers. But the 159-page report is now available free of charge to suppliers with a Tier II or Tier III membership in IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, along with foodservice operators who qualify as members.
What is everyone else missing? Take our quiz and see.
Q1. The fastest growing chain segment last year in terms of unit count was...
A. Salads
B. Sandwiches
C. Chicken
D. Mexican
Q2. The fastest growing chain in terms of unit count (by %) was...
A. Dave’s Hot Chicken
B. Cava
C. McDonald’s
D. Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings
Q3. The chain chosen by consumers as having the most unique menu is...
A. The Cheesecake Factory
B. Crumbl
C. Kpot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot
D. Fogo de Chao
Q4. The four chains with the fastest growth last year in systemwide sales all compete within the same segment. That sector is...
A. Salads
B. Chicken
C. Sandwiches
D. Coffee
Q5. Which of the following statements is false?
A. McDonald’s systemwide sales last year were greater than the combined sales of its two closest competitors in the sales ranking.
B. The number of quick-service burger restaurants shrank last year.
C. Arizona surpassed California in the number of chain restaurants that were opened within its borders last year.
D. The nine fastest-growing beverage chains all increased their units by more than 50% last year.
How’d you do? If the answer is “not great,” operator and Tier II and III members can brush up by accessing the complete Datassential 500 report here.
As Managing Editor for IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Romeo is responsible for generating the group's news and feature content. He brings more than 40 years of experience in covering restaurants to the position.