February 2009 TOP 20 FASTEST GROWING CONCEPTS

(Began period with between 50 and 100 units)

Research Period 10/21/08-1/20/09

Rank	Name	Cuisine	Service Type	Start Count	Growth	End Count	Growth %	Research Ended	Trading States
1	WHICH WICH	Sandwich	Quick Serve	54	10	64	19%	11/25/2008	AZ, CO, GA, IA, MO, MS, NM, OK, SC, TN, TX, WA
2	FAMOUS FAMIGLIA	Pizza	Quick Serve	93	16	109	17%	1/19/2009	AK, AZ, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NV, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA
3	NRGIZE LIFESTYLE CAFE	Juice/Smoothie	Quick Serve	59	9	68	15%	11/15/2008	AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, NJ, NY, OR, PA, TX, WA, WI
4	MELLOW MUSHROOM	Pizza	Quick Serve	86	10	96	12%	12/31/2008	AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, KY, LA, MS, NC, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA
5	SCOOTER'S COFFEEHOUSE	Coffee	Quick Serve	61	7	68	11%	1/19/2008	AZ, CO, IA, KS, MO, NE, SD, TX
6	ZPIZZA	Pizza	Quick Serve	77	8	85	10%	11/25/2008	AZ, CA, GA, MD, MN, MT, NC, NV, OH, PA, TX, VA
7	FLEMING'S PRIME STEAKHOUSE	Steak & Seafood	Upscale	53	5	58	9%	11/18/2008	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
8	LA TASCA SPANISH TAPAS BAR & RESTAURANT	Spanish	Upscale	72	6	78	8%	11/13/2008	DC, MD, VA
9	DICKEY'S BBQ PIT	BBQ	Fast casual	90	6	96	7%	10/24/2008	AZ, CA, CO, GA, IA, MO, MS, NC, NM, OH, PA, TN, TX, VA
10	MOXIE'S CLASSIC GRILL	American	Family/casual	56	4	60	7%	12/15/2008	AB, BC, MB, ON, SK
11	SARPINO'S PIZZERIA	Pizza	Family/casual	78	5	83	6%	10/29/2008	AB, BC, IA, IL, KS, MB, MN, SK, TX
12	PIZZA PATRON	Pizza	Take-Out	80	5	85	6%	1/20/2009	AZ, CA, CO, FL, NV, TX
13	WAGAMAMA	Japanese	Fast casual	93	5	98	5%	11/10/2008	MA
14	WINGS TO GO	Chicken	Quick Serve	76	4	80	5%	10/28/2008	AL, AR, CA, DC, DE, IN, LA, MD, NC, NJ, OH, OK, PA, RI, TX, VA
15	BJ'S RESTAURANTS	American	Family/casual	78	4	82	5%	1/19/2009	AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, IN, KY, LA, NV, OH, OK, OR, TX, WA
16	MCCORMICK & SCHMICK'S SEAFOOD	Seafood	Upscale	81	4	85	5%	11/13/2008	AL, AZ, BC, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, TX, VA, WA, WI
17	EDO JAPAN	Japanese	Fast casual	83	4	87	5%	1/14/2009	AB, BC, CA, FL, HI, ID, NM, ON, PQ, SK, UT, WA
18	OLD CHICAGO	Pizza	Family/casual	95	4	99	4%	11/14/2008	AR, AZ, CO, FL, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, SD, TN, WI, WY
19	SHANE'S RIB SHACK	BBQ	Fast casual	83	3	86	4%	11/11/2008	AZ, FL, GA, IA, KY, LA, MD, NC, NV, NY, OH, SC, TN, VA
20	POLLO TROPICAL	Chicken	Fast casual	88	3	91	3%	1/12/2009	CT, FL, NJ

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 January 20th, 2009.

This quarterly list of Top 20 Fastest Growing Concepts (began period with 50-100 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) BJ’s Restaurant (May ’08, Aug ’08, Oct ‘08)

2) Famous Famiglia (Aug ’08, Oct ‘08)

3) Dickey’s BBQ Pit (Feb ’08, May ’08, Oct ‘08)

4) Pizza Patron (May ’08, Oct ‘08)

5) Nrgize Lifestyle Café (Oct ’08)

6) Mellow Mushroom (Oct ’08)

7) Scooter’s Coffeehouse (Feb ’08)

8) ZPizza (Feb ’08, May ’08)

9) La Tasca (May ’08)

10) Sarpino’s Pizzeria (Aug ’08)

11) Wagamama (May ’08)

12) McCormick & Schmick’s (Feb ’08, May ’08)

13) Shane’s Rib Shack (Feb ‘0, May ’08)

14) Pollo Tropical (Aug ’08)

Parameters considered:

· A restaurant chain or group with at least 50 units.
· A restaurant chain or group who began the period with fewer than 100 units.
· A restaurant chain or group who grew by at least 3 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.

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