Next Level Burger (NLB), which refers to itself as “America’s first 100% plant-based burger joint chain,” announces it has received the title of Best Fast-Food Chain in the 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards and winning against conventional non-vegan chains.
Next Level Burger was the sole plant-based nominee among conventional fast-food giants. The winners were selected based on public votes after a panel of experts at Newsweek put forward a list of nominees.
“The fact that our 10-unit vegan restaurant chain was able to beat out chains with […] global brand presence is an incredible honor”
Matt de Gruyter, co-founder and CEO of NLB, stated, “The fact that our 10-unit vegan restaurant chain was able to beat out chains with thousands of units and global brand presence is an incredible honor. For us, the significance of this win is even deeper, as it shows that consumers are becoming more aware of the footprint of their food choices.”
The top ten winners in the contest are as follows:
- Next Level Burger
- Whataburger
- Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Chick-Fil-A
- Jersey Mike’s
- Zaxby’s
- In-and-Out Burger
- Popeyes
- Firehouse Subs
- Culver’s
Next Level Burger offers a range of plant-based burgers, shakes, and snacks. Its burger lineup includes housemade ‘smash’ patties, quinoa and mushroom patties, and black bean patties made from non-GMO organic vegetables, along with Beyond Meat burgers and crispy chick’n burgers.
Expansion and acquisition
Earlier this year, Next Level Burger expanded its footprint by acquiring Veggie Grill, a fast-casual chain that had recently closed several locations due to financial challenges. This acquisition brought the total number of restaurants under NLB’s ownership to 25, including 10 NLB locations and 15 Veggie Grill locations across Oregon, Washington, California, Texas, Colorado, and New York. NLB and Veggie Grill by Next Level now represent the largest wholly-owned plant-based restaurant group in North America.
The company has plans for further expansion in the coming years.
“This is the story of forward-thinking stewardship and sustainability – for ourselves, our planet, and the sentient beings we share it with. At NLB, we believe the future is bright, but that it’s up to all of us to make sure of it.”
