Introduction
As the restaurant industry continues to evolve, there are certain restaurant chains that are expected to grow in the coming years. In 2023, seven restaurant chains in particular are expected to experience significant growth. These seven restaurant chains are Chipotle Mexican Grill, Panera Bread, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Subway. Each of these restaurant chains has a unique approach to food and customer service that has allowed them to become some of the most popular restaurant chains in the world. In this article, we will discuss the reasons why these seven restaurant chains are expected to experience growth in 2023.
7 Restaurant Chains That Will Be Growing in 2023
The restaurant industry is constantly changing, and it can be difficult to predict which restaurant chains will be successful in the future. However, there are some restaurant chains that are likely to be growing in 2023. Here are seven restaurant chains that are likely to be expanding in the coming years.
1. Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill is one of the most popular fast-casual restaurant chains in the United States. The chain has been growing steadily since its inception in 1993, and it is likely to continue to grow in the coming years. Chipotle has a strong focus on fresh ingredients and sustainability, which has helped it to stand out from other fast-food chains.
2. Shake Shack
Shake Shack is a fast-casual restaurant chain that specializes in burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes. The chain has been growing rapidly since its founding in 2004, and it is likely to continue to expand in the coming years. Shake Shack has a strong focus on quality ingredients and customer service, which has helped it to stand out from other fast-food chains.
3. Panera Bread
Panera Bread is a fast-casual restaurant chain that specializes in sandwiches, soups, and salads. The chain has been growing steadily since its founding in 1981, and it is likely to continue to expand in the coming years. Panera Bread has a strong focus on fresh ingredients and healthy options, which has helped it to stand out from other fast-food chains.
4. Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A is a fast-food restaurant chain that specializes in chicken sandwiches. The chain has been growing steadily since its founding in 1967, and it is likely to continue to expand in the coming years. Chick-fil-A has a strong focus on quality ingredients and customer service, which has helped it to stand out from other fast-food chains.
5. Starbucks
Starbucks is a coffee shop chain that specializes in coffee, tea, and pastries. The chain has been growing steadily since its founding in 1971, and it is likely to continue to expand in the coming years. Starbucks has a strong focus on quality ingredients and customer service, which has helped it to stand out from other coffee shop chains.
6. Taco Bell
Taco Bell is a fast-food restaurant chain that specializes in Mexican-inspired food. The chain has been growing steadily since its founding in 1962, and it is likely to continue to expand in the coming years. Taco Bell has a strong focus on quality ingredients and customer service, which has helped it to stand out from other fast-food chains.
7. Dunkin’ Donuts
Dunkin’ Donuts is a coffee shop chain that specializes in coffee, donuts, and other baked goods. The chain has been growing steadily since its founding in 1950, and it is likely to continue to expand in the coming years. Dunkin’ Donuts has a strong focus on quality ingredients and customer service, which has helped it to stand out from other coffee shop chains.
With a few notable exceptions, the past few years have been terrible for folks in the restaurant business. While a few chains thrived during the height of the COVID-19 years, such as Domino’s, which saw business boom during the pandemic, per QSR Magazine, most restaurants suffered greatly. And in fact, tens of thousands of restaurants did close down permanently due to the impact COVID-19 had on business, according to The Washington Post.
Looking ahead, though, the days look brighter for the American restaurant scene. For many people, that means a return to regular dining out (or takeout or ordering in, of course). With the resurgence of customer demand, many restaurant chains are looking to grow. Here are 7 restaurants chains that are planning to expand in 2023.
Known for fancy burgers, rich shakes, and elevated prices that match its elevated fare—$6.19 for a plain hamburger, at last check—this burger chain is headed for an expanded footprint next year. Shake Shack will be opening as many as 70 new locations in 2023, which will bring the chain to around 430 locations, given the current count of some 360 units, per data from Zippia.
Coming off a couple of rough years and with growth still sluggish in 2022—in fact, the chain delayed several new restaurant openings this year—The Cheesecake Factory looks to be back in a growth mode for 2023. Per Nation’s Restaurant News, analysts with restaurant industry experience forecast a growth rate of 7% for the chain next year, while a representative from the company said that as many as 25 new Cheesecake Factory locations were possible in 2023.
According to Chain Store Age, the burrito size won’t be the only big thing related to Chipotle next year—there’s also the growth. The upscale Mexican fast-food chain has designs on adding between 250 and 285 new units in 2023, which would greatly expand its already impressive system of more than 3,060 units.
Marco’s Pizza has big plans for growth in 2023. Early in 2022, the chain announced plans to add 200 locations to its then extant 1,000 units, and, per Chain Store Age, the company aims to reach an impressive 1,500 locations by the end of 2023. The pizza joint’s growth involves both expansion into new markets and saturation of others, as with a plan for six new units in Lubbock, TX alone, per Verdict Food Service.
Known alternately as Checkers or Rally’s (depending on location), these two burger chains are one and the same company. And it’s a company that’s expanding its footprint in 2023. According to Verdict Food Service, the company will expand by dozens of locations in the next year, likely by just more than 70 new units.
Quiznos is likely to add dozens of new locations systemwide in 2023, per a press release from the company. It is planning 30 new Quiznos units for the state of Arizona alone, in fact, according to the Phoenix Business Journal. Most notable about this growth is that it follows years of contraction—once a glowing success story with some 5,000 locations in America, the Great Recession of the late 2000s decimated the chain, which at one point fell below 200 units.
Despite a notable absence from the New England region (and a few other states eastern, as well as including Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington), Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is already a sizable chain, with some 460 locations nationwide. And per a press release the chain put out in the fall of 2022, in 2023 Freddy’s plans to expand past 500 units.
Steven John