Cowboy Chicken, gusto! and PITA Among QSR’s List of Most Exciting Startup Brands for 2020

QSR has named the 40 most exciting fast casual concepts with fewer than 40 units, and Cowboy Chicken, gusto! and PITA Mediterranean Street Food are among these innovative brands that are changing the way Americans eat. The criteria include a focus on experience rather than value, premium hospitality, chef-driven menus and ambitions beyond just growth and profit. At number 14 on the list, Cowboy Chicken’s focus beyond perfecting the taste of chicken cooked over an open fire is enhancing the company’s technology platforms and designing a new store prototype this year. Atlanta’s very own gusto! earns the 16th slot by tackling flavorful, good-for-you food with a variety of signature toppings, plus opening its first drive-thru location for added convenience. At 26, PITA Mediterranean Street Food capitalizes on fresh, portable combinations like customizable street pitas, rice bowls and kebabs.