Restaurant Business magazine’s list of top-50 restaurant chains positioned for growth includes four companies already entrenched on Kaua‘i. These businesses include Cold Stone Creamery at number five; L&L Hawaiian Barbecue at number 15, and Quiznos Subs at 27. Rounding out
Restaurant Business magazine’s list of top-50 restaurant chains positioned for growth includes four companies already entrenched on Kaua‘i.
These businesses include Cold Stone Creamery at number five; L&L Hawaiian Barbecue at number 15, and Quiznos Subs at 27.
Rounding out the list is Starbucks at number 40. Leaders at Starbucks and their corporate partner Jamba Juice will be adding a second location next week at the Kaua‘i Village shopping center in Waipouli.
Cold Stone Creamery locations are at Kukui Grove Center in Lihu‘e and Kaua‘i Village shopping center. L&L is in Waipouli Town Center, and Quiznos is in Kukui Grove Center.
According to a report by Michael Malone, encouraged by a strong economy, restaurant chains are growing with confident, if somewhat conservative, steps. Whereas a year ago, leaders of some companies posted nearly 150-percent growth from the year before in terms of sales and/or unit counts, a mere handful were pleased just to crack the 100-percent mark in either category on this year’s charts.
Yet there is considerable growth going on out there, and far more than the years prior to 2004, when leaders of countless chains were either shuttering units, or focusing their energies on existing ones.
According to research prepared by Technomic Inc., here are profiles of the Kaua‘i entries:
Cold Stone Creamery
- With more than 900 units, Cold Stone leaders have taken their ice cream well beyond their hot Arizona backyard. The concept is built on mixing in mix-ins, such as candy and nuts, on a cold marble slab, and a crew of peppy staffers who sing in unison when a tip is dropped in the jar (though some tippers request they not sing). Cold Stone employees serve up cones, cups and cakes, and the flavors are as goofy as some staffers, such as Cherry Loves Cheesecake and Cookie Doughn’t You Want Some. Donald and Susan Sutherland founded the concept in 1988, and have their sights set on 1,000 units by the end of 2005, the majority franchised.
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
- The L&L concept, heaping plates of Hawaiian barbecue similar to what one would get from a lunch truck, goes back several decades, to its early days as a drive-in.
Today, there are some 115 units across Hawai‘i, California, Washington, and Nevada, where guests enjoy scoops of rice and macaroni salad topped with flavorful proteins such as chicken katsu, beef curry, mahi mahi, and lemon chicken. There are also burgers and dogs, along with noodle and rice bowls.
Quiznos
- Sandwich biggie Quiznos leaders saw their system grow 40 percent in 2004, cracking the 3,000-unit mark. The concept was founded back in 1981 in Denver, and is known for oven-baked subs featuring fast, casual-type ingredients, such as raspberry chipotle sauce, honey bourbon mustard, and red-wine vinaigrette. After an ad campaign that featured singing vermin called sponge-monkeys, the Quiznos spots now feature a wisecracking infant by the name of Baby Bob.
Starbucks
- Leaders of the Seattle coffee giant continue to expand, posting not only nearly 30-percent growth in sales, but an 18-percent rise in unit count, and an AUV increase of 9 percent. Besides the company’s well-known coffee and frozen-drink menu, Starbucks continues to generate revenue with baked goods, salads, and even CDs. Its Hear Music program offers records from both obscure new bands, and industry biggies like Ray Charles. Jim Donald recently took over the corner office from Orin Smith.
The number-one, fastest-rising chain is Claddagh Irish Pub
Claddagh posted a hearty 120-percent sales increase in 2004. Management projects 20 total units by the close of 2005, all company-owned.
