Fast-casual chains boosted their ranks last year

Fast-casual eateries continued their national expansion in the year ended May 30, with the number of eateries such as Panera, Chipotle, Noodles & Co. and Wahoo’s Fish Taco growing 7 percent, according to NPD Group. Nationally, there are now five fast-casual units for every 100,000 people, but the number jumps in heavily saturated markets including Fort Collins, Colo., which leads the nation in fast-casual density. Read Los Angeles Times story here.