U.S. restaurant sales rose 3.4% in 2011

Sales among the 500 largest restaurant chains in the United States rose 3.4% to $242 billion in 2011, compared with a 1.8% increase in annual sales in 2010, according to new research from Chicago-based Technomic. As Nation’s Restaurant News reports, Technomic’s data shows more than 60% of the top 500 chains posted at least nominal sales increases; 193 chains showed sales declines in 2011, compared with 231 in 2010. The fast-casual segment led the way in terms of sales and unit growth. The three fastest-growing chains among brands with at least $200 million in revenue were Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Jimmy John’s—posting sales increases of 32.8%, 23.4% and 21.8%, respectively. Baton Rouge-based Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers was the fifth fastest-growing chain, with 18.2% sales growth. Limited-service restaurant brands—which include quick-service and fast-casual chains—increased annual sales 7.1%, far outpacing the full service restaurant sector’s 2.8% increase.