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The Top Brands in Food Service, Hotels, Retail and More
Food service
Top restaurant overall
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In-N-Out Burger
Branding 2014
Introducing Entrepreneur's Top Brands of 2014: Learn Their Secrets
The Top Brands in Food Service, Hotels, Retail and More
Secret sauce: In-N-Out Burger rarely advertises or talks to the press. It took nearly 30 years for the brand, founded in 1948, to add milkshakes to its simple menu and 44 years to expand outside of California (it is still found in just five Western states). And most of its best items are on a "hidden menu" known only to die-hard fans. It sounds like the formula for brand sabotage, but that exclusivity has created a cult-like fanaticism fueled by regional pride, nostalgia and damn good burgers and fries. And people on the outside are desperate to join in the fun--when In-N-Out opened its first Texas locations in 2011, customers camped out overnight and endured a 2-mile-long drive-thru line.
Image credit: Panera Bread
Bakery
Panera Bread
The alternative: Before Panera, it wasn't easy to get a quick meal without excess salt, sugar and fat. Panera found its groove by filling that niche, supplying soup, light sandwiches and salads to the burger-averse. Now the fast-food alternative stays on top by keeping tabs on consumer tastes and adjusting its menu to new generations of health-conscious consumers with the addition of items like egg whites and lettuce wraps.
Breakfast
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
Be the brand: If the rocking chairs didn't clue you in, then maybe the exclusive album by Vince Gill and Paul Franklin will get through. Cracker Barrel is country--and it's not afraid to flaunt it. From its Southern-inspired menu to its retail shop, the Barrel gives loyal customers a comforting slice of down-home life.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons/Anthony92931
Casual
The Cheesecake Factory
Variety unbound: There are more than 250 items on the Bible-size menu at The Cheesecake Factory, the 169-unit casual-dining chain. But the menu's not the only thing that's huge: so are the portions and the carb counts. In an era of calorie counting, the Factory stands out--and draws crowds--through its commitment to excess. It's a quintessential American splurge that has become synonymous with celebrating all things over-the-top.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons/Chitrapa
Coffee
Starbucks
Experience everywhere: Yes, Starbucks is about coffee, but at its core it's also about place. Its powerful customer loyalty comes from the guarantee that the Starbucks experience--and a custom double soy caramel macchiato--is available no matter what city you're in, or even what street you find yourself on. In short, Starbucks is a brand that has transcended marketing and integrated itself into millions of customers' routines.
Image credit: Flickr.com/Mark Turnauckas
Fast-food chicken
Chick-fil-A
Quality above all: There's one thing that makes Chick-fil-A a true standout: Its classic pressure-cooked chicken sandwich is really good, especially when measured against offerings from other fast-food outlets. That quality has led to strong brand loyalty for the more than 1,700-unit franchise. And though controversies over the company's championing of religious and conservative viewpoints have caused some backlash in recent years, those same actions actually led to a boost in customer loyalty in some parts of the U.S.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons/User:proshob
Fast-food Mexican
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Humane interest: In the restaurant industry, you don't call the shots until you're the alpha dog. Witness McDonald's: The way it handles its beef and chicken affects the entire industry and the food chain as a whole. But Chipotle has chosen to ignore the lead of McDonald's and other giants that source cheap ingredients, sticking to its "food with integrity" mantra since its founding in 1993. That means using humanely raised, antibiotic-free meat, organic and locally sourced produce and hormone-free dairy products whenever possible.
Now that Chipotle, with nearly 1,600 locations, is one of the big guys, its policies are beginning to influence other chains. That commitment, plus delicious, custom-made burritos, has created a truly ravenous fan base.
Image credit: ownaritas.com
Frozen desserts
Rita's Italian Ice
Savvy nostalgia: "Ice, custard, happiness." A formula for success doesn't get much simpler, and honoring that philosophy has made the more than 600-unit Rita's Italian Ice franchise a beloved institution. Up to a quarter of the chain's customers visit at least once a week, drawn by cheerful customer service, innovative offerings (Swedish Fish-flavored ice!) and the simple convenience of walk-up stands.
Image credit: Maggiano's Little Italy
Italian
Maggiano's Little Italy
The grocernaut: Dining out is expensive, but it's a necessary evil for many busy professionals. That's one reason Maggiano's, with almost 50 units across the U.S., came up with the idea of giving anyone who orders one of its classic pastas a complimentary second serving to take home. It was also among the first brands to sell freshly prepared to-go products. This combination of restaurant and prepared-food grocer--plus the fact that Maggiano's is often ranked as having the best casual-dining fare in the country--is creating one of the next great restaurant brands.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons/Anthony92931
Smoothies
Jamba Juice
Fresh on demand: There probably isn't another brand that symbolizes freshness like Jamba Juice. Its 850-plus bright yellow stores and mounds of fruit evoke health and vibrancy. Recently, the smoothie chain has extended its brand by putting 1,800 kiosks in schools and Target stores, and will launch another 1,000 this year.
Image credit: Morton's The Steakhouse
Steakhouse
Morton's The Steakhouse
Service, refined: Great steak will keep diners coming back, but exceptional customer service will secure them as lifetime patrons. That's something Morton's, with more than 70 locations worldwide, understands to its marrow. The company will do almost anything to keep customers happy: The staff even met a regular customer at the airport with a porterhouse when he jokingly tweeted at them that he was hungry.
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