Fast Company recently released its picks for the most innovative companies in restaurants, dining and food services for 2025. Let’s take a look at the top 10, counting down to the number one pick.
10. Oyster Master Guild: This company earned a spot on the list by going all in on their namesake ingredient – oysters. The restaurant offers diners an education on oysters and professional certifications for those connoisseurs that wish to learn as much as possible.
9. Bite: This company is adding a personal touch to technology by adding hospitality into touchscreens at restaurants and convenience stores. Examples include personalized offers and upsells.
8. Blackbird Labs: Blackbird Labs is banking on customers’ desire for human interaction. It’s a membership and loyalty platform that encourages customers to go to their favorite restaurants by offering crypto if they perform actions that help the restaurant.
7. Smoodi: Smoodi specializes in smoothies. Its mix stations are compact and offer high-quality ingredients which can be found in gyms, hospitals, convenience stores and more.
6. Dig: This restaurant company is doing something truly innovative – making airplane food desirable.
5. Salad and Go: Those looking for a healthy and affordable, on-the-go food option need look no further than Salad and Go. This chain offers fast-food salad options under $8 with fresh ingredients.
4. Resident: This company throws private events with top-tier chefs that are relatively easy to book.
3. Wingstop: Focusing on chicken wings has proven to be a great game plan for this fast-growing chain. Now, its goal is to become 100-percent digitized.
2. Wonder: Wonder is one of the most innovative companies because it’s creating a restaurant and mealtime app by creating a unique ecosystem – a delivery system with almost no third-party marketplaces.
And now, without further ado, the top spot on Fast Company’s list goes to….
1. Cava: The Mediterranean chain was recognized for revamping its dining room layout to facilitate face-to-face connections, among other rather creative strategies.
“What Cava has done is clever because they’re focusing on human-centered innovation. They are tapping into customer demands which, for restaurants, is authentic social experiences, it’s not just about the food,” Joshua Wood, founder of CJ Digital, a restaurant marketing agency, told The Food Institute. “This is innovative because many fast-casual restaurants are focused on maximizing throughput, and speed, and less on the social experience.”
Cava’s leadership has a great feel for what its customers crave, said Milos Eric, GM of OysterLink.
“Cava [has] doubled down on the in-person experience, making their spaces warmer and more inviting at a time when automation is everywhere. At the same time, they’re using technology where it matters – behind the scenes. They invested in scheduling systems that made their staff’s lives easier.”
What can those in the food industry learn from these companies on the Most Innovative list?
Bob Vergidis, founder of pointofsale.cloud, told FI he believes successful, innovative restaurants all tend to have one thing in common: a simple, well-executed menu and an enjoyable customer experience.
“Do they deliver? Do they accept digital payments online only? The best innovations in restaurants aren’t always about reinventing the wheel but are about executing the fundamentals better than anyone else,” Vergidis said.
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