Dave’s Hot, Dutch Bros led fast food growth in 2024

Dave’s Hot Chicken, Dutch Bros led QSR

Overall, QSR (aka Fast Food) outgrew other restaurant categories in 2024. Noticeably absent are fast food stalwarts McDonald’s (MCD), Chick-fil-A, and Wendy’s (WEN). All three underperformed the top 15 brands. A combination of store openings and increased customer growth meant that the top 15 QSR restaurants by sales growth were largely smaller brands. 

Dave’s Hot Chicken (DAVE) and Dutch Bros (BROS) led growth in the QSR category, achieving exceptional YoY sales growth. 

Dave’s Hot Chicken and 7 Brew Coffee: Growing fast, gaining customers

Dave’s Hot Chicken, popular with young, affluent customers, continued rapidly expanding and gaining share in 2024. Dave’s customers are spending less at Chick-fil-A, Popeyes, and KFC (YUM), demonstrating a strong shift in loyalty. Between January 2021 and 2025, their chicken wallet share at Dave’s grew by approximately 8.2x.

Similarly, 7 Brew Coffee is rapidly gaining share in the coffee market. Fourth-quarter 2024 sales increased 110.7% YoY and continue to surpass 100% YoY growth in early 2025.

7 Brew customers’ return rates are higher compared to Starbucks (SBUX), Dunkin’ (DNKN), and Dutch Bros. Fifteen quarters following their initial purchase, 32.2% of 7 Brew Coffee customers were still buying from the brand. This rate is notably higher than Starbucks’ 23.8%, Dunkin’s 17%, and Dutch Bros.’ 16% in the same timeframe (See chart in Dash)…download report to continue reading.