The fast-food drive-through is spilling into the world of designer coffee, convenience stores and fast-casual chains such as Panera Bread. Thanks, in part, to these new avenues, drive-through sales, which slowed during the recession, are growing. Sales were up 3% in 2011, and up 2% in 2010, after falling 1% in recession-fed 2009, according to a report from researcher NPD Group, to be released Tuesday.

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