Quick Service Industry Trends for 2026

Otherwise, they get rose-colored glasses about success in the home market and assume it will translate quickly. You pointed out anticipating 5070% volumes. I have actually even seen cases where it's just 2530% at launch.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

So you require equity sponsors who think in the vision and the team. Another lesson: you require to open 4 to 6 shops in a new market within two to 3 years. That's expensive, but it creates emergency, constructs awareness, and validates above-store leadership. Without it, you stay sluggish and unprofitable.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

At Chop Shop, we intentionally developed strong bases in Phoenix and Dallas. That gave us the profitability to endure slow starts in Houston and Atlanta. And we were lucky that Dallasour second marketwas also where our team lived. Having the entire team in-market to support stores, hire, and guarantee culture was big.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Top Benefits of Fast Casual Franchising in 2026

People typically ignore how crucial team is to scaling. How have you approached structure and scaling your group? This is something I'm actually happy with. Our group took all the things we hated from past jobsfeeling underappreciated, underpaid, growth-stifledand developed the opposite culture here. We highlight development mindset and career pathing.