Everyone has an opinion and everyone is certainly entitled to that opinion, but that certainly does not mean everyone has a correct opinion. How can opinions be correct you might be asking? For the most part they cannot. But when it comes to food, that’s an entirely different story.
For America declared a new burger champion this week, when regional D.C. darling Five Guys overtook the California-based In-N-Out. This rating—and correct opinion—comes courtesy of Harris Poll’s annual EquiTrend Study. Five Guys beat In-N-Out, who had the top spots for the past two years, and this is the first time Five Guys has been crowned champion.
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“The burger brand category has become less fragmented, as regional brands expand and become available in more parts of the country,” Joan Sinopoli, vice president of brand solutions at The Harris Poll, said in a statement. “This is certainly the case with Five Guys, who has shed its ‘small regional player’ designation as it expands its footprint and marketing budget along with its fandom, which is a tremendous contributor to brand equity.”
As the chain expands, Americans’ appreciation for Five Guys increases. In 2013, 48% of respondents were familiar with Five Guys, according to The Harris Poll. Today, that figure is 68%, with Five Guys reaching 81% familiarity among Generation Z and millennials.
The poll included other food rankings in various categories. Chik fil A earned No. 1 ranking in the Chicken Restaurant category and Starbucks unsurprisingly was named the best coffee chain. In addition, Papa John’s and Subway were named best pizza chain and sandwich shop, respectively.
