Amid an uncertain year, burgers prevail
By Sarah Sutton • February 9, 2016
Diners visiting many Chipotle Mexican Grill locations in recent months probably noticed that ordering lines—which used to snake out the door—were now shorter and that normally crowded parking lots had empty spots. It didn’t take a business savant to realize that the fast-casual leader’s sales would be down precipitously, as a significant number of customers stayed away in the wake of a series of food-borne illness outbreaks. He noted, however, that one particular segment recorded a strong performance: the quick-service burger business. “Burger chains to some degree are fortunate because they are a core part of what Americans are looking for in uneasy economic times like these,” says Mark Kalinowski, restaurant industry analyst for Wall Street investment firm Normura Securities. “People are familiar with the food, like the food, and see value there.”