The Great Recession left clear winners and losers in the chain restaurant game. Fast-food places? Burger King wasn’t the only one that could wear a crown. The fast-casual sector fared even better. But old-line family or casual concepts? Stick a fork in ’em.
Strangely, the players most deserving of a superhero’s cape pulled a Clark Kent on the business, dodging recognition despite a show of considerable might. Regardless of the segment, franchisees now stand even taller and firmer after the wobble of the economic downturn.
Indeed, if chains are driving industry expansion, and franchisees are the Saturn V’s powering that lift, franchisees are fueling the growth of the trade in large part. Carry on reading.