Building Mad Momentum with a Huge First Quarter
Seven new shops open, 10 franchisees signed as operator-driven growth powers 28% sales surge!
We’re starting off 2026 with a bang! With a 28% year-over-year increase in systemwide sales for the chain and over 200 teriyaki shops across the country, Teriyaki Madness is celebrating one of the highest first-quarter growth performances in the fast casual industry!
Fueled largely by existing franchisees expanding their footprints and referring friends and family, that momentum builds on a 46% increase in total shop count over the past two years. Our growth isn’t just aggressive; it’s coming from inside the system! Now, we’re on a tear to open a projected 46 shops this year with a strong showing in the first quarter.
Operators of other brands have taken notice. So far this year, we have signed 10 new franchisees set to open 18 new locations, with multiple new franchisees coming through referrals from existing franchisees. This also reflects a broader trend: a growing share of franchise expansion is being driven by our existing franchisees as they choose to scale and bring others into the Madness.
New Faces in the Home Office & Our Franchisees
Built for growth, we have our sights set on opening another 100 units in the next 18 months by adding to our franchise support teams in Q1 with several key hires:
• Lindsay Dvorak, Franchise Development Marketing Manager
• Brittani Moore, New Shop Opening Trainer
• Demitris Padgett, Digital Marketing Coordinator
• Sydney Haith, Development Project Coordinator
• Oliver Mason, IT Analyst
Additionally, promoting two existing team members:
• Karen Barrios to Vice President of Legal Ops
• Liz Worley to Vice President of Digital Marketing
TMAD received plenty of industry recognition in Q1 with Aunna Macias, Manager of Restaurant Tech at Teriyaki Madness, earning the 2026 Top Women, Rising Stars in Restaurant Technology Award from Hospitality Technology. We were also named one of Food On Demand’s 2026 Outstanding Operators.
“We’ve spent the past year tightening operations and improving unit-level performance, and now we’re seeing that discipline show up in the numbers,” said Michael Haith, Chief Executive Officer of Teriyaki Madness.
“What’s even more exciting is where that growth is coming from. The operators coming into this system aren’t experimenting; they’re executing, and the ones already in it are referring others, finding ways to move faster and open more shops. When you build something that works at the unit level, growth stops being a question and starts becoming a byproduct. It is our job to ensure we invest in all of the resources needed by our franchisees, before they need it!”
We Mean Business with Our Menu Innovation
The introduction of Double Protein bowls quickly gained traction, accounting for 7.3% of entrée purchases, and contributing to our strong first-quarter performance. Double Protein bowls are already slated to become a permanent menu item immediately.
Supporting Expansion with New Tech
In even bigger news, Teriyaki Madness announced a systemwide partnership with Toast to support operations across our 200+ locations. The platform includes point-of-sale, kitchen display systems, and digital ordering tools designed to improve efficiency and support continued expansion.
“The focus is on giving operators tools that drive both traffic and profitability,” said Jodi Boyce, Chief Marketing Officer at Teriyaki Madness. “When you combine menu improvements like Double Protein with upgraded technology and a growing base of franchisees, it creates a model that is easier to operate, more profitable to run and built to scale across markets.”
With new franchisees entering the system, existing operators expanding and sales trending upward, Teriyaki Madness continues to build more momentum than almost every other fast casual restaurant brand heading into the remainder of 2026!
