The mouthwatering rise of The Habit Burger Grill

Tasty burgers  and relaxed atmospheres never go out of style.

Consumer Report crowned a dark-horse franchise, The Habit Burger Grill, as America's tastiest beef and bun combo. The nationwide survey gaged fast food lovers on their favorite burger joints, and The Habit Burger Grill scored better than national mainstay franchises like In-N-Out Burger, Smashburger, and Five Guys. It is clear that Habit Burger has struck a chord with consumers by riding the fine line between quick-service and fast-casual. Experienced franchisees and new investors alike can take a page from Habit Burger's playbook when it comes to tapping into the ever-competitive burger market.

Expansion reflects opportunities
The franchising success of The Habit Burger Grill is equally as important as the restaurant's taste test victory. Nation's Restaurant News notes that the franchise made moves to expand its California-based business to the East Coast through market partners, and the strategy has already found success. The burger joint opened a store in New Jersey in mid-August while continuing to open new locations in California. Habit Burger was fortunate that the timing of its expansion coincided with the release of the Consumer Report survey. However, the franchise would not have had an opportunity to take advantage of good press without its aggressive attitude toward expansion. This example of Habit Burger making its own luck is a good lesson for franchisees about the importance of planning for the future.

Mixed appeal becomes habitual
Nation's Restaurant News notes that a diverse menu and high-quality product helps Habit Burger gain traffic from the fast-casual market. The success of The Habit Burger Grill stealing customers from Five Guys and Smashburger also points toward effective branding. Customers eating at Habit Burger pay on average $7.70, which fits squarely into the average per-meal costs in a quick-service fast food restaurant. This pricing allows The Habit Burger Grill to compete on both sides of the "better burger" spectrum while retaining a healthy customer base on both sides of the fence.