Culver's, Shake Shack seize burger share as legacy chains stall
US limited-service burger category grew just 2% in 2025 to $113B, but Shake Shack (+15.2%) and Culver's (+14.2%) outpaced via hospitality plays while Wendy's (-5.2%), Jack in the Box (-4.3%) and Sonic (-2.6%) shed volume. Culver's share projected to nearly double from 3.85% to 6.62% by 2030.
US limited-service burger category grew just 2% in 2025; legacy chains like Wendy's, Sonic, Jack in the Box declined while premium upstarts Shake Shack (+15.2%) and Culver's (+14.2%) won share via hospitality and reputation, set to double by 2030.
Why this matters
Culver's continues its multi-year share climb, with hospitality-forward service and frozen custard differentiation pulling traffic from legacy drive-thru chains amid flat category demand.
Retail-brand signals steady at 154 in last 90 days, reflecting ongoing share reshuffles across QSR.