PNRA,BWLD,CMG,,..The next chapter for fast-casual restaurants
Fast-casual restaurants grew comparable-store sales 8% in Q3, a pace of restaurant industry out-performance forecast to have continued into Q4.
Panera Bread (NASDAQ:PNRA) and Noodles (NASDAQ:NDLS) have both gone through some growing pains, but are hitting the innovation lever (Panera 2.0, catering, mobile).
While Chipotle (NYSE:CMG) remains the major success story in the segment with a string of double-digit comp quarters, new concepts are drawing interest.
IPO-launched Habit Restaurants (NASDAQ:HABT) has the type of on-trend concept (low average check, quick service) and projected growth track (104 units to 2K) that could bring in momentum investors.
In the fast-casual pizza sub-segment it's wide open. Project Pie, RedBrick Pizza, PizzaRev (NASDAQ:BWLD), Blaze, Pieology, and Pie Five Pizza all have an innovative approach. Expect a fast-casual pizza IPO from at least one of the players in 2015.
invest at your own risk, based on your own due diligence, at your own risk tolerance
