According to the National Restaurant Association (NRA), restaurant industry sales are expected to reach $537 billion by the end of this year, up from $323 billion 10 years ago. With over 935,000 outlets and more than 12.8 million employees, (more than any other industry except for government) this market offers plenty of business opportunities for rental operators. The key to successfully growing with this market is to understand the various old and emerging segments in it, and the trends that are shaping them today. 
 
For the last 50 years, the three main segments in the restaurant market ...