Fast food is everywhere. Crispy chicken sandwiches, towering burgers, late-night tacos. Each of us has a go-to fast food spot we love. Burger King, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, KFC, Chick-fil-A, Subway… we all have a favorite, but when it comes to sales, one restaurant brand is on top by a mile. And it’s a name so recognizable, most people in the world know it instantly: McDonald’s.
A Global Food Titan
The world’s largest fast food chain started life as a rather unassuming venture: a small hamburger stall in San Bernardino, California. The first McDonald’s opened in 1940 and was operated by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald. The McDonald brothers realized the importance of speed and low costs, alongside a limited menu. They implemented what they called the “Speedee Service System” as the prototype of the future fast food industry.
The Golden Arches logo was designed in 1953, and with a franchise agent by the name of Ray Kroc in 1955, McDonald’s was on its way to becoming the global phenomenon it is today. Kroc was impressed by the brothers’ operation and was convinced it could be scaled up to a national, and eventually international, level. Kroc purchased the company in 1961, and the franchise expanded rapidly.
Fast forward to today, and McDonald’s Corporation, based in Illinois, United States, owns or franchises over 40,000 restaurant locations. Roughly 25% of these restaurants are in the U.S., with the remaining 75% scattered throughout the world. Much of McDonald’s income in recent years has also come not from selling burgers, but from real estate: the corporation owns approximately 70% of its buildings, as well as 45% of the land under the restaurants, which are then leased to franchisees.
The two most famous menu items at McDonald’s restaurants have been the Big Mac and its iconic, extra-crispy french fries. Both are the best-selling licensed items for the chain. The menu also offers cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, breakfast items, salads, coffee, and on occasion, limited-time or regional options. The chain has been a target of criticism for its perceived contributions to poor nutrition, poor animal welfare, and low employee wages, but it remains the most successful restaurant business of all time.
Numbers Don’t Lie
So what is the best fast food restaurant according to sales? Plain and simple, the numbers don’t lie.
McDonald’s has restaurants in 120 countries and territories and serves approximately 68 million customers per day. In 2023, there are 41,800 McDonald’s restaurants around the world, backed by approximately 45,000 direct U.S. employees and tens of thousands more across the system in its franchise restaurants.
McDonald’s has also evolved with the times and the habits of consumers who have an ever-increasing need for convenience. Its on-demand delivery business, which expanded through the addition of partners Uber Eats in 2017 and DoorDash in 2019, with Grubhub in additional markets later on, currently makes up about 3% of total business. Delivery is another growth channel for the restaurant industry as more consumers turn to these services.
The most staggering stat is when it comes to global revenue: McDonald’s company-owned and franchise restaurants had more than $100 billion in sales in 2019, about 4% of the $2.5 trillion restaurant industry worldwide. No other fast food restaurant brand comes close in regard to that scale, reach, or economic impact.
Why We Keep Coming Back
In a crowded fast food market, you might wonder how McDonald’s stays at the top. The secret is simple and strong. McDonald’s has a big fan base because it’s consistent, convenient, and reliable. The menu is recognizable, the prices are budget-friendly, and the brand innovates by adding new tech, delivery, and limited-time products to stay relevant.
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