Biggest fast food chains in the USA
This article aims to explore the 10 biggest fast food chains in the USA in terms of sales. Fast food remains one of the most popular types of food in the country. Whether people are on a road trip or running late for work, fast food chains make it easy for them to get a quick meal. While many people tend to avoid fast food due to its reputation for being unhealthy, others see it as a helpful option when time is short.
According to Lock (2022) the 10 biggest fast food chains in the USA by sales are McDonalds, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, Dunkin, Burger King, Subway, Domino’s and Chipotle. These chains offer different types of food; however, they also have a lot in common. Many of them are trying to provide healthier meals, and they have all made some changes over the past few years in response to changing market conditions.
List of the 10 biggest fast food chains in the USA
McDonald’s
McDonald’s is the biggest fast food chain in America with sales worth of $45.96 billion dollars in 2021 (Lock, 2022). In fact, this company is so large that it is actually the world’s largest restaurant chain. Its menu is fairly similar from location to location. This makes it easy for people to quickly find something they want to eat, no matter where they are. It serves a wide variety of food, including burgers, sandwiches, salads, and breakfast items. Many people see this chain as a go-to place when they are in a hurry.
Starbucks
Starbucks specialises in providing high-quality coffee, tea, and other beverages. However, many people also use it as an easy place to grab a quick lunch or snack. In fact, Starbucks has become so popular that it now has a much larger menu than it originally had.
Customers can now find a wide variety of sandwiches, salads, baked goods, and other foods at many Starbucks locations. Given the large number of choices available, it is easy to see why Starbucks has become such a popular place to eat. It is the second largest fast food chain in America with sales worth of $24.56 billion dollars in 2021 (Lock, 2022).
Chick-fill-A
Number three in the ranking of the 10 biggest fast food companies in the USA is Chick-fill-A which is famous for being closed on Sundays and employees saying: ‘my pleasure’ to customers instead of ‘you are welcome’ or ‘no problem’ (Meyersohn, 2022). It has made enormous progress in the last several years, though it has a smaller number of locations compared to other big chains.
Taco Bell
Taco Bell is a Mexican-themed chain that has been around for years. There is no surprise that it has become a large part of America’s fast food landscape. It is known for serving delicious tacos and other types of food such as burritos and nachos. Its restaurants are usually smaller than other fast food chains. Outside the USA, it is growing rapidly in the United Kingdom (Hawkins, 2022).
Wendy’s
Wendy’s has been serving delicious burgers and other foods for decades, and it has a large number of loyal customers. It is known for having higher-quality ingredients than many other fast food restaurants, and has a fresh menu that changes from time to time.
Dunkin
Dunkin is a popular coffee chain that has thousands of locations in the United States. People visit this company for its delicious coffee; however, it also serves a wide variety of donuts and other foods. Its coffee uses 100% Arabica coffee beans which is widely regarded as a superior grade of coffee. Many of its stores offer free Wi-Fi and power points as well.
Burger King
Burger King is one of the biggest fast food chains in the USA that offers a wide variety of burgers, sandwiches, and other foods. It can be found in many different areas of the country. It has introduced several new items recently, which has helped it to remain in the spotlight. Indeed, it has been a part of American fast food culture for many years, and shows no signs of slowing down.
Subway
There is no doubt that most people think of Subway as a place to get a quick, and healthy meal. This is because this chain is known for serving fresh, delicious sandwiches made with high-quality ingredients. Besides fresh sandwiches, it also offer breakfast items, cookies, and a variety of hot and cold drinks.
Domino’s
Domino’s has thousands of locations around the USA. It has become popular for a number of reasons, including its affordable prices and large menu. However, many people visit this chain to get a classic pizza.
Chipotle
Chipotle is another Mexican food chain that has become very popular with customers. It has several unique features, including its emphasis on fresh ingredients. It serves a large number of Mexican-style foods, including tacos, burritos, salads, and other dishes.
Chipotle is one of the fastest growing chains in the fast food industry, and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. One thing that stands out about it is that it is trying to be a little bit healthier than other fast food restaurants at a time when customers are increasingly aware of the health dangers of eating too much fast food.
Summary of the biggest fast food chains in the USA
It is no surprise that McDonald’s is the biggest fast food chain in the USA. It has been in the industry for many decades and offers affordable food. However, others are doing really well as well in terms of sales and opening new locations. In fact, the top 10 fast food chains in America tend to grow even larger every year.
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Last update: 29 September 2022
References:
Hawkins, E. (2022) Taco Bell ‘on fire’ as Mexican fast-food chain gears up for 100th UK site, available at: https://www.cityam.com/taco-bell-on-fire-as-mexican-fast-food-chain-gears-up-for-100th-uk-site/ (accessed 29 September 2022)
Lock, S. (2022) Leading chain restaurants in the United States in 2021, by sales, available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/298191/sales-of-the-leading-chain-restaurants-in-the-us/ (accessed 27 September 2022)
Meyersohn, N. (2022) Why Chick-fil-A workers always say ‘my pleasure’, available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/09/business/chick-fil-a-my-pleasure/index.html (accessed 28 September 2022)
Author: M Rahman
M Rahman writes extensively online and offline with an emphasis on business management, marketing, and tourism. He is a lecturer in Management and Marketing. He holds an MSc in Tourism & Hospitality from the University of Sunderland. Also, graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University with a BA in Business & Management Studies and completed a DTLLS (Diploma in Teaching in the Life-Long Learning Sector) from London South Bank University.