McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD, Mkt. Cap: $92.6B) recent earnings report disappointed investors, as earnings dropped 21% in Q4, and customer traffic fell 4.1% in the US. They cited their menu as being a large driver of this slump, as consumer tastes have shifted towards healthier options.
This trend is one that has taken over the restaurant industry, as more cutting-edge “fast casual” concepts like Chipotle continue to increase market share, leading to an overall 550% sales growth in fast casual food since 1999.
Source: Washington Post
We used CB Insights data on financings into private restaurant groups (including franchisees like Goldco and WKS Restaurant), to identify some of the key investor-backed players looking to compete with McDonald’s and other incumbent fast food players.
As McDonald’s and its traditional fast food peers look to re-think how they attract customers, these restaurant groups are taking advantage of the fast casual trend and a more health conscience diner. Our list ranges from companies leading the “better burger” concept like Smashburger, to premium salad chains like Sweetgreen to farm-to-table concepts like Dig Inn Seasonal Market and Lyfe Kitchen.
See the full list below.
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