Wingstop Outgrows Starbucks, Chipotle as Fastest-Growing Chain

Wingstop has emerged as the fastest-growing restaurant chain in 2026, outperforming established brands such as Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, and Chipotle. This achievement is detailed in a preview of QSR Magazine's annual QSR 50 report, with the full rankings anticipated in August. Wingstop secured the top position by opening 382 new locations, a figure approximately 100 more than any other brand in the cohort. The chicken wing chain has rapidly ascended the growth rankings, moving from the fourth-fastest growing brand in 2024 to the leading spot in less than two years. This growth trajectory has allowed Wingstop to close the gap with Starbucks, which previously held a significant lead in location numbers.

Despite its recent success, the Dallas-headquartered company, founded 32 years ago, has navigated challenges. In 2025, Wingstop experienced its first same-store sales decline in over two decades, with a 3.3% decrease. The beginning of 2026 presented further external pressures, including a dip in customer visits attributed to severe weather and rising gas prices. Wingstop concluded 2025 with a total of 3,056 locations, including 407 international franchises, with approximately 98% of its outlets operating under franchise agreements.

Wingstop's rapid expansion is part of a larger trend favoring chicken restaurants. A 2025 report by Yelp identified 7 Brew, another competitor to Starbucks, as the brand with the highest consumer interest for that year, with Wingstop ranking tenth on the same list. Market research firm Circana's 2025 restaurant rankings also highlighted significant growth for chicken-focused establishments like Raising Cane's and Wingstop. Raising Cane's ranked 16th and Wingstop 21st on that list, marking an upward movement of nine and eight spots respectively from the previous year, underscoring the growing consumer preference for chicken-centric dining options.