TOP 20 FASTEST GROWING CONCEPTS

(Began period with between 50-200 units)

Research Period 1/21/11 to 4/20/11

Rank	Name	Cuisine	Service Type	Start Count	Growth	End Count	Growth %	Research Ended	Trading States
1	DICKEY'S BARBECUE PIT	BBQ	Fast Casual	139	27	166	19%	4/2/2011	AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NM, NV, NY, OK, PA, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, WY,
2	PINKBERRY	Ice Cream/Yogurt	Quick Serve	106	20	126	19%	4/26/2011	BC, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, HI, LA, MA, NC, NY, RI, TN, TX, VA
3	WHICH WICH	Sandwich	Quick Serve	116	15	131	13%	3/7/2011	AR, AZ, CA, CO, GA, IA, IL, IN, LA, MO, MS, NC, NM, NV, NY, OK, SC, TN, TX, WA
4	MELLOW MUSHROOM	Pizza	Fast Casual	112	12	124	11%	4/25/2011	AL, AR, AZ, CO, FL, GA, IN, KY, LA, MS, NC, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA,
5	MONKEY JOE'S (RAVING BRANDS)	Pizza	Quick Serve	55	6	61	11%	4/11/2011	FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MO, MS, NC, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI
6	ZPIZZA	Pizza	Quick Serve	95	9	104	9%	4/25/2011	AZ, CA, CO, DC, GA, HI, MD, MN, MT, NC, NV, NY, OH, SC, TX, VA, WA
7	NRGIZE LIFESTYLE CAFE	Juice/Smoothie	Quick Serve	109	6	115	6%	3/8/2011	AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, MN, NJ, NY, OR, PA, TX, VA, WA, WI
8	SHANE'S RIB SHACK (PETRUS BRANDS)	BBQ	Fast Casual	65	3	68	5%	4/6/2011	AL, AR, AZ, CA, FL, GA, HI, IA, KY, LA, MA, MD, NC, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA,
9	NESTLE TOLLHOUSE CAFE BY CHIP	Bakery/Café	Take-Out	89	4	93	4%	4/13/2011	AL, AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OK, PA, SC, TX, VA
10	GAMBINO'S PIZZA	Pizza	Fast Casual	53	2	55	4%	4/25/2011	KS, MO, NE, OK, TX
11	PIZZA PATRON	Pizza	Take-Out	99	3	102	3%	4/26/2011	AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, NV, TX
12	ST-HUBERT RÔTISSERIES	Chicken	Family/Casual	100	3	103	3%	3/2/2011	NB, ON, PQ
13	CHEZ CORA	American	Family/Casual	119	3	122	3%	4/11/2011	AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, ON, PE, PQ
14	EARLS	American	Family/Casual	63	2	65	3%	4/20/2011	AB, AZ, BC, CO, MB, ON, SK, WA, YT
15	PIZZA NOVA	Pizza	Quick Serve	122	3	125	2%	4/10/2011	ON
16	PEI WEI ASIAN DINER	Chinese	Family/Casual	168	3	171	2%	4/5/2011	AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, IL, KS, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA
17	GLORIA JEAN'S COFFEE BEAN	Coffee	Take-Out	85	2	87	2%	4/6/2011	AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, ME, MI, MO, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, WI, WV
18	GOLD STAR CHILI	American	Quick Serve	89	2	91	2%	4/3/2011	IN, KY, OH
19	BJ'S RESTAURANTS	American	Family/Casual	102	2	104	2%	4/19/2011	AZ, CA, CO, FL, IN, KY, LA, NV, OH, OK, OR, TX, WA
20	ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE	American	Family/Casual	115	2	117	2%	4/20/2011	AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI

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 April 20, 2011.

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) PINKBERRY

2) CHEZ CORA

3) MELLOW MUSHROOM

4) ZPIZZA

5) NRGIZE LIFESTYLE CAFE

6) GAMBINO'S PIZZA

7) BJ'S RESTAURANTS

8) PIZZA NOVA

9) PEI WEI ASIAN DINER

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.