The 500 largest U.S. restaurant chains registered slower growth rates overall, posting 3.4 percent annual sales growth in 2008. For the year, U.S. systemwide sales for the top 500 rose to an estimated $230.2 billion, up $7.6 billion over 2007.
Growth continued to come from the Bakery Cafe, Coffee and Other Beverage, and Hamburger categories with Panera Bread, Starbucks and Burger King posting estimated 2008 sales growth of 16.2, 6.9 and 6.6 percent, respectively.