{"id":16052,"date":"2026-07-10T12:31:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T12:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=16052"},"modified":"2026-07-10T12:31:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T12:31:08","slug":"regional-burger-chains-outpace-mcdonalds-and-wendys-in-sales-growth-data-shows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=16052","title":{"rendered":"Regional burger chains outpace McDonald’s and Wendy’s in sales growth, data shows"},"content":{"rendered":"


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NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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

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

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While national chains remain the largest players, regional burger brands are growing at a much faster pace, according to new research.<\/span> (Mikayla Whitmore for The Washington Post via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\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

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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

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There are “some really strong and fast-growing brands” among regional burger chains, a food service expert told Fox News Digital.<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\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><\/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

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“For years, scale was viewed as a sign of success and trust.”<\/p>\n

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“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 for comment.<\/p>\n

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

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

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Culver’s Butterburger has become a Midwestern point of pride, thanks to its fresh beef and buttery bun.<\/span> (Andrea Margolis for Fox News Digital)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\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><\/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

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“Scarcity plays a powerful role” in demand for regional fast-food burger chains like In-N-Out, which is mostly in the West.<\/span> (Paul Bersebach\/MediaNews Group\/Orange County Register via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\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><\/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

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Whataburger was among the regional burger chains that outpaced several of the nation’s largest fast-food brands in sales growth since 2019, according to Technomic.<\/span> (Mark Felix for The Washington Post via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/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

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