CHICAGO — Restaurants & Institutions has announced the winners of its 28th annual Consumers' Choice in Chains study. The award winners are selected by a consumer polling process.
A few quick-service restaurants scored in the top, including In-N-Out Burger in the burger category and Chick-fil-A in the chicken category.
As part of its mission to provide industry insights and intelligence, R&I annually commissions exclusive consumer research, polling more than 3,100 chain-restaurant patrons. For each of the chains they have visited, respondents are asked to assess eight attributes that factor into the total dining experience: food quality, service, convenience, cleanliness, value, menu variety, atmosphere and reputation. Those chains with the top scores in each of 13 industry segments are named R&I's Consumers' Choice in Chains winners.
The 2008 Consumers' Choice in Chains winners in the QSR, fast casual and pizza categories include:
BURGERS
In-N-Out Burger — Platinum Winner
Culver's — Gold Winner
Fuddruckers — Silver Winner
CHICKEN
Chick-fil-A — Platinum Winner
Zaxby's — Gold Winner
El Pollo Loco — Silver Winner
COFFEE/SNACKS
Starbucks — Platinum Winner
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts — Gold Winner
Cinnabon — Silver Winner
TREATS
Jamba Juice — Platinum Winner
Cold Stone Creamery — Gold Winner
Ben & Jerry's — Silver Winner
SANDWICH
Panera Bread — Platinum Winner
Jason's Deli — Gold Winner
Jimmy John's — Silver Winner
PIZZA
Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza — Platinum Winner
Round Table Pizza — Gold Winner
Papa John's — Slilver Winner
MEXICAN
On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina — Platinum Winner
Moe's Southwest Grill — Gold Winner
Chipotle Mexican Grill — Silver Winner