Perhaps Americans have finally heeded the advice of diet coaches: Don’t skip breakfast. Coffee, pancakes and doughnuts are making restaurant revenues fatter, according to 2015 data from research firm NPD Group. And while lunch and dinner flat-lined in the 12-month period ending May 2015, breakfast visits were up 4 percent. The National Restaurant Association says 72 percent of adults wish restaurants would offer breakfast throughout the day. Sarasota-headquartered First Watch Restaurants, which also serves lunch, is satisfying the demand. Here’s a fact-filled look at the fastest-growing, privately owned, daytime restaurant company in the country. 

Year Founded: 1983

Number of Stores: 145

Cups of coffee sold on average weekend: 55,707

Number of employees: 5,250

The required net worth of a First Watch franchisee: $2 Million

Names of the four First Watch Restaurants, Inc. brands: First Watch, The Egg & I, The Good Egg, Bread & Company

Most expensive item on the menu in Sarasota: Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict - $11.99

Average dollar amount per check Per person AT corporate restaurants: $10.84

Average number of eggs ordered annually: 7,468,344

Average daily sales per restaurant: $3,522

Number of pancakes served in 2016: 1,770,683