AUGUST, 2009 TOP 20 FASTEST GROWING CONCEPTS

(Began period with between 50-200 units)

Research Period 4/21/09 to 7/20/09

Rank	Name	Cuisine	Service Type	Start Count	Growth	End Count	Growth %	Research Ended	Trading States
1	NRGIZE LIFESTYLE	Juice/Smoothie	Quick serve	68	15	83	22%	7/18/2009	AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, MN, NJ, NY, OR, PA, TX, WA, WI
2	BISCUITVILLE	American	Quick serve	51	4	55	8%	6/8/2009	NC, VA
3	BOOSTER JUICE	Juice/Smoothie	Take-Out	196	13	209	7%	6/16/2009	AB, AZ, BC, CA, FL, ID, MB, NB, NJ, NL, NS, NY, ON, OR, PQ, SK, TX, UT, WA
4	CHEDDAR'S CASUAL CAFE	American	Family/casual	71	5	76	7%	6/2/2009	AR, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, TN, TX, VA, WV
5	SCOOTER'S COFFEEHOUSE	Coffee	Quick serve	68	5	73	7%	6/23/2009	AZ, CO, IA, KS, MO, NE, OR, SD, TX
6	LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN	Bakery/Café	Fast casual	104	6	110	6%	6/9/2009	CA, CT, DC, NY, ON, VA
7	PANCHERO'S MEXICAN GRILL	Mexican	Fast casual	53	3	56	6%	6/18/2009	CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NJ, PA, SD, TX, VA, WI
8	FAMOUS FAMIGLIA	Pizza	Quick serve	109	5	114	5%	5/19/2009	AK, AZ, CT, DC, FL, GA, HI, IA, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NV, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, WI
9	EDO JAPAN	Japanese	Fast casual	87	4	91	5%	5/14/2009	AB, BC, CA, FL, HI, ID, NM, ON, PQ, SK, UT, WA
10	FLEMING'S PRIME STEAKHOUSE	Steakhouse	Upscale	61	3	64	5%	7/14/2009	AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NV, OH, OK, PA, RI, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI
11	BIGGBY COFFEE	Coffee	Quick serve	100	4	104	4%	5/21/2009	AL, GA, MI, OH, SC, WI
12	MELLOW MUSHROOM	Pizza	Quick serve	99	4	103	4%	7/7/2009	AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, KY, LA, MS, NC, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA
13	FOX & HOUND	American	Family/casual	82	3	85	4%	5/26/2009	AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WI
14	RUNZA	Sandwich	Quick serve	80	3	83	4%	6/8/2009	CO, IA, KS, NE
15	RAISING CANE'S	Chicken	Quick serve	76	3	79	4%	7/16/2009	AL, CO, GA, KY, LA, MN, MS, NE, NV, OH, OK, TX, VA
16	EARLS	American	Family/casual	57	2	59	4%	5/22/2009	AB, AZ, BC, CO, MB, ON, SK, YT
17	FAMOUS DAVE'S	BBQ	Family/casual	171	5	176	3%	6/10/2009	AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV
18	JET'S PIZZA	Pizza	Take-Out	163	5	168	3%	6/11/2009	FL, GA, KY, MI, MN, NC, OH, TN, TX
19	GATTI'S PIZZA	Pizza	Buffet	138	4	142	3%	5/5/2009	IN, KY, LA, MS, NC, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
20	PICK UP STIX	Chinese	Fast casual	98	3	101	3%	5/29/2009	AZ, CA, NV

Our commentary: First we want to say, that we increased the span of tracking of this quarterly report from 50 units up to 200 units (previously to 100 units) at the start of their respective research period.

A main reason is it provides the reader more of an inside view as to the companies who grow from small multi-unit groups to what may be considered a large chain with more than 200 locations. As you can see in the current list, not many companies grew by many units during the previous quarter.

About the process:

Unit ranges (starting, growth and ending) reflect growth information that occurred four months prior to the "as of date" listed (each company has their own research date range). Overall research for this quarter concluded on July 20th, 2009.

This quarterly list of Top 20 Fastest Growing Concepts (began period with 50-200 units) displays trimester to trimester recent growth captured during our re-verification process. Information is derived and calculated from the continual process of interviewing and verifying more than 7300 restaurant chain concepts.

Repeat concepts (Listed on previous Top 20 lists):

1) Nrgize Lifestyle Café (Oct ’08, Feb ’09, May ‘09)

2) Famous Famiglia (Aug ’08, Oct ‘08)

3) Mellow Mushroom (Oct ’08, Feb ‘09)

4) Scooter’s Coffeehouse (Feb ’08, Feb ‘09)

5) Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse (May ‘09)

6) Pick Up Stix (May ’09)

7) Cheddar’s Casual Café (May ’09)

8) Edo Japan (May ’09)

Parameters considered:

· A restaurant chain or group with at least 50 units.
· A restaurant chain or group who began the period with fewer than 200 units.
· A restaurant chain or group who grew by at least 2 units.
· A restaurant chain or group that is a unique brand/concept, not a franchisee.
· A concept with growth within the U.S. or Canada.
· A restaurant chain or group with reliable information available regarding unit counts and activity.

Readers should know that unit counts and percentages are not annualized and relate to recent growth only. Companies on the list are chosen without opinion and are a result of academic research.

If you were a client, you would have already known this information. Please notify us for more information.

info@restaurantchains.net or call 1-914-591-4297.