{"id":138556,"date":"2026-07-10T06:00:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T10:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cablemanpro.com\/wallstreetpr\/regional-burger-chains-are-beating-fast-food-giants-in-one-key-measure-138556"},"modified":"2026-07-10T06:00:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T10:00:59","slug":"regional-burger-chains-are-beating-fast-food-giants-in-one-key-measure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cablemanpro.com\/wallstreetpr\/regional-burger-chains-are-beating-fast-food-giants-in-one-key-measure-138556","title":{"rendered":"Regional burger chains are beating fast-food giants in one key measure"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Regional burger chains are dramatically outpacing America’s largest fast-food brands<\/a> in sales growth.<\/p>\n

New data from Chicago-based food service research firm Technomic shows Culver’s, In-N-Out Burger and Whataburger have grown far faster than McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King since 2019.<\/p>\n

Technomic data measured U.S. sales growth between 2019 and 2025 and found regional burger chains significantly outpaced their national rivals.<\/p>\n

CHEFS NAME AMERICA’S BEST FAST-FOOD FRIED CHICKEN AND BISCUITS \u2014 AND ONE CHAIN STANDS ABOVE THE REST<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The regional chains include Culver’s in the Midwest, In-N-Out Burger<\/a> in the West and Whataburger across the South and Southwest.<\/p>\n

McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King posted U.S. sales growth of 36.2%, 16.5% and 8.5%, respectively, according to Technomic data.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Culver’s sales surged 143% to $4.36 billion over the same period, while In-N-Out’s climbed 91.7% to $2.58 billion and Whataburger’s grew 68.6% to $4.31 billion.<\/p>\n

Fox News Digital reached out to McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King for comment.<\/p>\n

AUTOMATIC TIP OR SERVICE CHARGE? NEW STATE LAW REQUIRES RESTAURANTS TO TELL DINERS BEFORE THEY ORDER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The findings highlight how several regional chains are expanding their footprints and attracting loyal customers even as the nation’s largest burger brands continue to dominate overall sales.<\/p>\n

The growth gap between national burger chains and regional operators has widened considerably over the past six years, said David Henkes, senior principal and head of strategic partnerships at Technomic.<\/p>\n

Henkes told Fox News Digital that there are “some really strong and fast-growing brands in the ‘regional’ bucket.”<\/p>\n

“Across sales growth, unit expansion and average unit volume (AVU), regional burger chains have substantially outpaced the three largest national brands over the 2019\u20132025 period,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Going forward, our 2026 forecast data supports continued regional outperformance, with the strongest regional operators all growing faster than the national big three on a percentage basis.”<\/p>\n

GEN Z EATS NEARLY TWICE AS MANY SNACKS AS BOOMERS, WITH EXPERTS WARNING THEY’RE REPLACING REAL MEALS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The trend isn’t universal, however, Henkes said.<\/p>\n

“Not all regionals are winning,” he said. “Steak ‘n Shake (down 32.8% in sales since 2019), Checkers (down 21.8%) and Smashburger (down 30.8%) show that geography alone does not guarantee outperformance.”<\/p>\n

“The winning regional formula is concentrated around strong AVU, disciplined unit growth and a differentiated brand experience \u2014 best exemplified by In-N-Out, Culver’s and Shake Shack,” Henkes added.<\/p>\n

Fox News Digital reached out to the National Restaurant Association<\/a> for comment.<\/p>\n

Industry experts say the appeal extends beyond the food<\/a> itself.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Regional burger chains often become “part of a community’s identity,” said Ravi Sawhney, a California-based design expert and founder of RKS Design.<\/p>\n

Sawhney told Fox News Digital that, while food quality matters, it’s rarely the main driver behind emotional loyalty.<\/p>\n

“If it were, consumers would consistently choose the objectively ‘best’ product,” he said. “We know that’s not how people behave.”<\/p>\n

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

“Scarcity,” Sawhney added, “plays a powerful role.”<\/p>\n

Part of it is a consumer desire for brands “that feel human rather than corporate,” Sawhney said.<\/p>\n

“For years, scale was viewed as a sign of success and trust,” he said. “Now we’re seeing a growing appreciation for authenticity, local culture, craftsmanship and distinctiveness.”<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The lesson for national fast-food brands isn’t to mimic regional chains’ menus but to build the same kind of customer connection, Sawhney said.<\/p>\n

“They create a clear sense of meaning and belonging while remaining true to who they are,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Regional chains succeed because they feel personal. National brands succeed when they find ways to make scale feel personal as well.”<\/p>\n

Technomic’s 2026 forecast projects the strongest regional burger chains will continue to grow faster than McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King on a percentage basis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Source – https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/food-drink\/regional-burger-chains-beating-fast-food-giants-one-key-measure <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Regional burger chains are dramatically outpacing America’s largest fast-food brands in sales growth. 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