The Asian segment in the United States has long been dominated by full-service restaurants, many of them independently owned. Foodservice industry consultant Technomic estimates there are 40,000 Asian/Chinese restaurants nationwide.
In quick-service, however, Asian is an under-realized category due to the predominance of full-service Chinese restaurants, said Darren Tristano, executive vice president with Technomic. “It hasn’t been as attractive a segment for major investment.”
According to Technomic’s recent Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report, QSR brands enter the segment below the $100 million annual sales level, leaving ample room for growth. In contrast, the leading limited-service chain is Panda Express, a hybrid fast casual/QSR, with $1 billion in annual sales.
Yet, the segment is rife with opportunity, especially with its variety of menu platforms and Americans’ trend toward bolder, “more international flavor profiles,” Tristano said. Read more.