If we take a look at the profits from all the chain restaurants in the United States, McDonald’s is the top earner. They have more than 500 locations nationwide and make a total of $37 billion per year. This makes them the richest fast-food company in the world. The rest of the top five include Starbucks, Subway, Burger King, and Taco Bell.
McDonald’s
Although the company is known for its hamburgers, it has other business ventures. For example, the fast-food chain operates coffeehouses and roasting plants as well. McDonald’s system generates about $37 billion in US sales annually. McDonald’s is the world’s second-largest private employer, employing approximately 1.7 million people. It operates many types of restaurants, including McDrive, McCafe, “Create Your Taste,” Special diet restaurants, Playgrounds, and more. McDonald’s stock has a market cap of USD 122.9 billion and is among the best-known brands in the world.
While there are other fast-food chains that have surpassed McDonald’s, they don’t come close to their profits. In fact, Starbucks, Taco Bell, and Dunkin’ Donuts all have a larger market value than McDonald’s. The top five fastest-growing chains in the US are McDonald’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Burger King, and Taco Bell.
Starbucks
When it comes to coffee drinks, Starbucks is hard to beat. The coffee shop chain was founded in 1971 by three American friends named Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker, and Zev Siegl. The trio’s goal was to open coffee houses where people could meet, work, and enjoy specialty drinks while sipping on their favorite beverage. As the world’s largest coffee company, Starbucks has grown to more than thirty thousand locations worldwide. The company recently opened its first store in Italy. The roastery is located in a historic post office building, and the entire experience is grander than a visit to the Galleria mall.
Although McDonald’s is the number one QSR chain in the United States, Starbucks is generating nearly the same amount of money. According to its latest earnings report, the company expects to generate about $13 billion in US sales. However, the company’s revenues will be far lower than those of the Disney and McDonald’s empires.
Subway
With over 140,000 locations worldwide, this fast-food chain can be very profitable. McDonald’s, Arby’s, and Subway all generated more than $1 billion in sales per location.
The success of Subway’s franchise model made it the richest fast-food chain in the United States. The company opened its first location in 1965 with a thousand-dollar loan from a family friend. The success was so great that the franchisees opened another one within a year. Subway grew quickly and now has locations in more than 100 countries. Subway offers a healthier alternative to fast food, as their sandwiches are made with fresh meats, cheeses, and vegetables.
Franchisees are expected to earn $400,000 to $41,000 per year from each location. However, despite the huge profits, some franchisees are complaining that the business is tough and financially unsound. Subway franchisees are complaining that it is too difficult to compete with fast-food chains like McDonald’s and Starbucks. The company’s domestic sales have been predicted to drop from $10.2 billion in 2019 to $8.3 billion by 2020, a drop of almost half from the $10.2 billion they achieved in 2018.
Burger King
A famous burger is the symbol of Burger King. Founded by Keith J. Kramer and Mattew Burns in 1953, the chain has now spread to over 11,000 locations in over 65 countries. Its annual net income is around US$ 1.912 billion, and it employs 340,000 people. Today, Burger King offers a variety of foods, including burgers, chicken fries, fresh milkshakes, salads, and desserts.
Taco Bell
If you were to ask a person about the wealthiest fast-food chains in America, they would probably say Taco Bell. This chain has over 40 million customers each week and commands the largest share of the Mexican fast-food market in the US, with 300 locations in over 25 non-American countries. The company also has a massive expansion plan, with plans to have 1,000 stores in the next five years.
If the fastest food chain in America has a dysfunctional family, it would be McDonald’s. McDonald’s is the golden child, Burger King is the jealous younger brother, and KFC is the cousin who still wears cargo shorts. Taco Bell is the problem child. Its profits are less than ten percent of its competitors, but its sales are rising steadily. In 2017, it also launched a $1 nacho-fries option.
Before the opening of Taco Bell in 1962, Bell owned several other restaurants, including the Downey Drive-In and Bell’s Hamburgers and Hot Dogs. In the 1960s, he served Mexican-style fast food at the restaurants and even competed against McDonald’s. He later sold the company to PepsiCo Inc. for $125 million. The company has since become one of the richest fast-food chains in the US.
Wendy’s
The first Wendy’s restaurant opened in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969. It soon expanded, opening in Canada. Today, it is America’s second-largest burger chain and ranks among the top three destinations for fast-food breakfast. The company is on a rapid growth plan and plans to open at least 8,000 locations worldwide by 2025. The company also has a global footprint that covers Canada and APMEA, including Africa.
The brand first opened in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio. It was named after Dave Thomas’ daughter Wendy. The company also pioneered the drive-through window, which allowed customers to purchase their food without leaving their cars. Wendy’s customer service philosophy has remained constant throughout the years, and by 2016, there were more than 9,900 locations and over 58,000 employees in the chain. And its success can be attributed to a relentless commitment to the community.
Dunkin’ Donuts
While the concept of a glazed donut isn’t as original as a traditional donut, consumers love its convenience. The company’s recent strategy to move away from the word “donut” may be an attempt to reach a different consumer demographic. The move also reflects the company’s desire to cement its foothold in the coffee industry, a sector they’ve been dominating for years.
Despite the popularity of the company’s products, this fast-food chain is also focused on the sustainability of its products. As a matter of fact, their NextGen stores are slated to replace all other outlets. These stores will have a unique system of eight-headed taps for the coffee and a pick-up area dedicated to mobile ordering. In 2019, they were expected to have five hundred NextGen locations and 1,400 by 2020. Whether these numbers are accurate is difficult to predict, and it is worth considering the recent pandemic.
The company has expanded its business to over 13,000 locations, and its stores are often packed, regardless of the time of day. In addition, Starbucks is one of the most popular fast-food chains in the United States, with more than 13,000 locations across the country. The company has been a global giant since its founding in 1940 and has over 13,000 locations in the US, as of the most recent report.
