10 Most Successful Fast Food Chains in the World
Fast food consumption is steadily increasing globally and interestingly all of the world’s most successful fast food chains are Americans. They have stretched out almost every corner of the world and made fast food a very popular eating concept.
The most successful fast food chains have shown economic shifts with the rapid growth of $240 billion over the last 30 years in the U.S. If you are a budding entrepreneur and looking to start your own fast food concept, studying these popular and most successful fast food chains can give a deep insight of the industry.
Here are the 10 most successful fast food chains in the world.
1- Subway
Subway is an American fast food chain that first opened in 1965 and has the most locations of any fast food chains on the planet, with more than 42000 restaurants in over 112 countries and 25550 outlets alone in the U.S.
Submarine sandwiches and Salads are the main products of Subway. It is privately owned and operated by Doctors Associates Inc.
2- McDonald’s
McDonald’s is also one of the most successful fast food chains worldwide with more than 37000 locations in 119 countries. McDonald’s was begun in 1940 by Richard & Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino in California; serving hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, French fries, desserts, and soft drinks as major products.
3- Starbucks
The Seattle based Starbucks is an American coffee house chain founded in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker, and Zev Seigel. It has 30000 locations across 64 countries, upon them 12973 are located in the U.S. Starbucks serves hot and cold beverages, wines, beers, and snacks.
4- KFC
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is also one of the American’s most successful fast food chains worldwide founded by Harland Sanders in 1930 in Kentucky. KFC has more than 20000 outlets within 123 countries.
KFC primarily only served fried chicken but in the 1990s extended its menu to offer other products like burgers, French fries, soft drinks, wraps, and desserts.
5- Burger King
Burger King is also one of the most successful fast food chains hamburgers; founded in 1953 in Jacksonville, Florida. Estimated, it has almost 17000 outlets in 100 countries and is the third largest burgers service in the United States.
Whopper Sandwich is the signature product of Burger King which is introduced back in 1957. The menu had prolonged to milkshakes, sodas, French fries, etc.
6- Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is the largest pizza delivery chain across the globe with more than 16500 locations in almost 100 countries, upon them, 6000 are in the U.S alone. It was founded in 1958 by Dan & Frank Carney, in Kansas City.
In 2001, Pizza Hut became the first ever company to deliver pizza to International Space Station, which was launched on Soyuz Spacecraft.
7- Domino’s
Domino’s pizza is a second largest pizza delivery service with 15000 stores in almost 80 countries. Bread bowls, pastas and oven baked sandwiches are the other major products on Domino’s menu. In beverages, Domino’s sells products of Coca Cola.
8- Dunkin’
Dunkin’ Donuts founded in 1950 operates in 3 countries and has 11300 locations in total. “American Run on Dunkin” is the slogan of the company since 2006.
Baked goods, hot & iced beverages, sandwiches, and soft drinks are the main products from Dunkin’ Donuts.
9- Baskin Robbins
Baskin Robbins is the world’s largest ice-cream chain, founded in 1945 in the USA. It provides an array of ice-cream flavors and delightful treats at more than 8000 locations in more than 50 countries worldwide. Baskin Robbins is a part of Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc.
10- Taco Bell
Glen Bell opened the first Taco Bell in Downey, California in 1962. It operates in 7000 locations across almost 30 countries worldwide.
Taco Bell provides Mexican inspired food and is the first restaurant to offer American Vegetarian Association certified menu items.
Summing it Up
If you carefully look at the success story of the above listed most successful fast food chains in the world, you will notice that one thing that is common among all is the unique product concept. Yes, you may copy someone else’s business idea and it may become successful for a while too, but it will not have much growth potential.
So, if you want your food business to achieve a massive growth, you must have something unique about it and have a foolproof business plan to support your idea. Do check out this list of home based food business ideas for your inspiration.
