1851

There&rsquo;s a major shift happening in the booming fast casual segment of the restaurant industry. It used to follow fast food&rsquo;s lead&mdash;nationally recognized brands like McDonald&rsquo;s were the ones setting the pace for their competitors for years. But there&rsquo;s a new kind of restaurant that&rsquo;s gaining popularity among consumers and ultimately changing the way that fast casual concepts see success: upscale chains.

This new segment of fast casual restaurants is taking off across the country and challenging the norm in the entire limited service restaurant industry. Instead of relying on traditional fried food, brands are now finding ways to serve high quality, freshly made meals at a fast casual friendly price. <a href="http://www.tendergreens.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-upscale-fast-casual-chains-are-challenging-the-entire-limited-service-restaurant-industry-6329" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tender Greens</a>, for example, is a brand that offers its customers a fine dining experience without breaking the bank. And the brand&rsquo;s CEO, Erik Oberholtzer, says there are a few key reasons that make its business model not just run, but thrive.

&ldquo;First, we have a very casual, counter-service formant, which democratizes the dining experience. By taking away the valet parking, the host and the waiter, we reduced the costs straight away by 30 percent. Then, we run our restaurants efficiently. We can provide food quickly at a price point that many people can afford on a daily basis,&rdquo; he said in an <a href="http://nrn.com/healthy-dining/tender-greens-ceo-discusses-development-conscious-company?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-upscale-fast-casual-chains-are-challenging-the-entire-limited-service-restaurant-industry-6329" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">interview with Nation&rsquo;s Restaurant News</a>.

That ability to offer consumers an alternative to traditional fast casual concepts at a price point that they can afford has created a lasting ripple effect in the industry. Other brands now have to rethink their strategies in order to keep up with these new concepts and continue to bring in new business. The reality is that fast casual restaurants like Tender Greens and the DC-based salad chain <a href="http://www.sweetgreen.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-upscale-fast-casual-chains-are-challenging-the-entire-limited-service-restaurant-industry-6329" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">sweetgreen</a> are capitalizing on the fact that consumers value healthy, farm-to-table meal options on the go.

Beyond their menus, upscale fast casual restaurants are also using technology to their advantage. By making mobile apps, digital menu boards and tech friendly environments a part of their model&rsquo;s DNA from the very beginning, they&rsquo;re successfully tapping into the next&mdash;and largest&mdash;generation of American consumers.

In an <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2015/07/01/sweetgreen-harvests-35-million-to-satisfy-millennial-salad-cravings/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-upscale-fast-casual-chains-are-challenging-the-entire-limited-service-restaurant-industry-6329" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">interview with TechCrunch last year</a>, sweetgreen co-founder Jonathan Neman said, &ldquo;Food is the last frontier of mobile. There&rsquo;s been very little done to connect restaurants with their consumers and leverage tech to make that a better experience, and we want to lead that charge.&rdquo;

Going forward, upscale fast casual chains will grow across the country. And as they open up their doors in new communities, the limited service segment of the restaurant industry will continue to evolve with them.

<a href="http://fortune.com/2016/02/18/sweetgreen-entrepreneurs/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-upscale-fast-casual-chains-are-challenging-the-entire-limited-service-restaurant-industry-6329" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Co-founder Nathaniel Ru told Fortune</a>, &ldquo;We&rsquo;re creating a brand that stands for something. We want to feed more people better food.&rdquo;

How Upscale Fast Casual Chains Are Challenging the Entire Limited Service Restaurant Industry

1851 Franchise

Brands like Tender Greens and sweetgreen are increasingly popular among consumers across the country.


This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

how-upscale-fast-casual-chains-are-challenging-the-entire-limited-service-restaurant-industry

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers - Midyear Press Release 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Comfort Keepers® Hits Mid-Year Stride With Strong Franchise Growth and Rising Demand for In-Home Care

comfort-keepers-franchise-midyear-momentum-2025

petbar

petbar - Garrett Dewan - Why I'm Investing - 1851 Franchise

Why Garrett Dewan Is Choosing To Reinvest in petbar

petbar-franchise-austin-garrett-dewan-multi-unit

Paris Baguette

NJBIZ: Paris Baguette Ramps Up Expansion With New Franchises, Facility and 2030 Growth Target

njbiz-paris-baguette-ramps-up-expansion-with-new-franchises-facility-and-2030-growth-target

Busy Bee Jumpers

Top 10 Reasons To Buy a Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise in 2025

top-10-reasons-to-buy-a-busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-in-2025

Home Halo

home-halo-former-athletes-frachisees-image

Why Former College Athletes Can Make Winning Home Halo Franchise Owners

former-college-athletes-home-halo-franchise

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery 

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery in Overland Park, Kansas

paris-baguette-franchise-overland-park-khandelwal

Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

From Corporate Careers to Community Roots: Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

kansas-couple-opens-childrens-lighthouse-gardner-olathe

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

How Upscale Fast Casual Chains Are Challenging the Entire Limited Service Restaurant Industry

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS