Regional burger chains are beating fast-food giants in one key measure

Regional burger chains are dramatically outpacing America's largest fast-food brands in sales growth.

New data from Chicago-based food service research firm Technomic shows Culver's, In-N-Out Burger and Whataburger have grown far faster than McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King since 2019.

Technomic data measured U.S. sales growth between 2019 and 2025 and found regional burger chains significantly outpaced their national rivals.

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The regional chains include Culver's in the Midwest, In-N-Out Burger in the West and Whataburger across the South and Southwest.

McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King posted U.S. sales growth of 36.2%, 16.5% and 8.5%, respectively, according to Technomic data.

Meanwhile, Culver's sales surged 143% to $4.36 billion over the same period, while In-N-Out's climbed 91.7% to $2.58 billion and Whataburger's grew 68.6% to $4.31 billion.

Fox News Digital reached out to McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King for comment.

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The findings highlight how several regional chains are expanding their footprints and attracting loyal customers even as the nation's largest burger brands continue to dominate overall sales.

The growth gap between national burger chains and regional operators has widened considerably over the past six years, said David Henkes, senior principal and head of strategic partnerships at Technomic.

Henkes told Fox News Digital that there are "some really strong and fast-growing brands in the 'regional' bucket."

"Across sales growth, unit expansion and average unit volume (AVU), regional burger chains have substantially outpaced the three largest national brands over the 2019–2025 period," he said.

"Going forward, our 2026 forecast data supports continued regional outperformance, with the strongest regional operators all growing faster than the national big three on a percentage basis."

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The trend isn't universal, however, Henkes said.

"Not all regionals are winning," he said. "Steak 'n Shake (down 32.8% in sales since 2019), Checkers (down 21.8%) and Smashburger (down 30.8%) show that geography alone does not guarantee outperformance."

"The winning regional formula is concentrated around strong AVU, disciplined unit growth and a differentiated brand experience — best exemplified by In-N-Out, Culver's and Shake Shack," Henkes added.

Fox News Digital reached out to the National Restaurant Association for comment.

Industry experts say the appeal extends beyond the food itself.

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Regional burger chains often become "part of a community's identity," said Ravi Sawhney, a California-based design expert and founder of RKS Design.

Sawhney told Fox News Digital that, while food quality matters, it's rarely the main driver behind emotional loyalty.

"If it were, consumers would consistently choose the objectively 'best' product," he said. "We know that's not how people behave."

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"Scarcity," Sawhney added, "plays a powerful role."

Part of it is a consumer desire for brands "that feel human rather than corporate," Sawhney said.

"For years, scale was viewed as a sign of success and trust," he said. "Now we're seeing a growing appreciation for authenticity, local culture, craftsmanship and distinctiveness."

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The lesson for national fast-food brands isn't to mimic regional chains' menus but to build the same kind of customer connection, Sawhney said.

"They create a clear sense of meaning and belonging while remaining true to who they are," he said. 

"Regional chains succeed because they feel personal. National brands succeed when they find ways to make scale feel personal as well."

Technomic's 2026 forecast projects the strongest regional burger chains will continue to grow faster than McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King on a percentage basis.