The fast food sector is booming worldwide, and younger consumers are largely responsible for its success. The biggest fast food companies in the world are driving this massive expansion thanks to their continually rising revenues and market success. Some of the best fast food chains in the world are at the vanguard of the rapidly developing fast food business, and their brands and signature menu items are instantly recognizable all over the globe. This piece covers 15 of the biggest fast-food chains globally.
1. McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is a QSR chain established in 1940 and headquartered in San Bernardino, California. McDonald's has over 69 million customers per day throughout its 40,031 locations in over 100 countries. McDonald's annual revenue of $24.194B for the 12 months ended June 30, 2023, was up 2.54% over the previous year. Something notable about the franchise is the implementation of McDonald's digital menu boards, which makes the ordering process seamless.
2. Subway
Subway has about 36,592 shops across the globe, spread out within 99 countries ranging from Singapore (125 restaurants in a country of fewer than 300 square miles) to Germany (645 outlets, including one within a windmill). Subway's annual revenue by the end of 2022 was $16.1B, and it is one of the fast food chains taking advantage of digital signage. Their digital menu boards are an excellent choice for customers looking for a quick and effective solution to ease ordering their food items.
3. Starbucks
Starbucks is the world’s leading coffee house chain. For the twelve months ended June 30, 2023, Starbucks reported $35.016B in revenue, an increase of 9.48% over the previous year. Some of the company's 33,833 locations in 80 countries provide seasonal or regionally relevant goods and services. If you're a coffee fan, you may be certain that Starbucks can satisfy your needs. Some Starbucks locations experimented with computerized menus with daily updates to highlight different products. These QSR menus took off to a good start improving the overall customer experience.
4. Kentucky Fried Chicken
The biggest location of the fourth-largest fast food business in the world is not in Kentucky but rather at the former Sabunchu railway station in Baku, Azerbaijan, which spans over 17,000 square feet. The food chain's revenue for 2022 was $31.116 billion. Over the years, KFC has incorporated digital signage into its marketing strategy. A good example is Louisville, KY's outdoor digital menu board installation.
5. Burger King
With more than 19,247 locations in more than 95 countries, Burger King has quickly become one of the world's most well-known fast food chains. It continues to record a growing revenue. It made over $1.9 billion in sales for the fiscal year ending in 2022, which increased from the previous year's total of $1.81 billion. Even better, Burger King now uses various digital signage displays in most locations, making the food chain more recognizable to existing and potential clients.
6. Domino's Pizza
Domino's Pizza is the sixth-best fast-food restaurant worldwide. It had sales of $4.54 billion in the United States in 2022. The company's first location opened in 1960 and has since expanded to more than 100 countries. Currently, Domino's menu in the United States features a broad array of Italian-American main and side dishes, which vary by location. These menus are embracing digital signage significantly. For instance, in 2020, Domino's started using digital signage to facilitate faster mobile order pickup.
7. Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut, an American fast food chain is a Wichita, Kansas establishment by brothers Dan and Frank Carney that has been in operation since 1958. Besides their famous pan Pizza, they also provide spaghetti, breadsticks, chicken wings, fries, and Italian tacos. More than 18,848 Pizza Hut restaurants are in over 100 countries and boast an annual revenue of $6.8B. You can count on a wonderful pizza topped with fresh ingredients in each restaurant. It's also one of the establishments using digital signage to great effect. Recently they revealed a smart table where customers can design their perfect pie.
8. Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts serves 3 million customers daily worldwide and sells 2.9 billion doughnuts annually in 36 distinct varieties. You may get green tea glazed doughnuts in China and Japan with mochi rings; in Taiwan, you can get pineapple glazed doughnuts. The most recent fiscal filings from Dunkin Brands reveal Trailing 12 months (TTM) revenue of $1.25 billion. 2019 the firm earned $1.31 billion in sales, up from $1.27 billion in 2018. Dunkin' Donuts is another food chain embracing digital signage to display menu boards, promotional items, weather stats, and more.
9. Taco Bell
Taco Bell, established in 1962 by Glen Bell, is a renowned fast-food restaurant chain that offers a diverse range of Mexican-inspired cuisine. It caters to a substantial consumer base of more than two billion individuals annually, operating a vast network of 7,072 stores throughout the globe. It has an annual revenue of $2.0B. Likewise, this fast food chain now has self-order digital kiosks in different locations. They help improve menu appreciation and the ordering process.
10. Wendy's
Dave Thomas started the Wendy's chain of fast-food restaurants in 1969. More than 6,949 Wendy's locations are in over 100 countries thanks to the company's decades-long international expansion. This food chain's revenue in 2022 was about $2.1 billion, an increase from the previous year's total of $1.9 million. This growth is due to incorporating digital signage into its campaigns. An excellent example is the Dubai digital menu board solution.
11. Hunt Brothers Pizza
Hunt Brothers Pizza is a cornerstone of the convenience store pizza tradition. Pizza experts in the fast food business make pies with premium ingredients and innovative seasonings that will blow your mind. To make its Pizza readily accessible, Hunt Brothers Pizza has over 8,000 stores in 30 countries. Its annual revenue is $3.3M.
12. Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme is an American fast-food chain known for its doughnuts and coffee, with over 1,400 locations globally. Its present TTM revenue is $1.57 Billion, as shown in the company's most recent financial reports. In addition, the company's 2022 revenue of $1.52 billion is an increase above 2021's revenue of $1.38 billion.
13. Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle is a fast food restaurant in the United States that serves Mission-style burritos and tacos in various international locations. The fast food franchise, which began in Denver, Colorado, in 1993, has expanded to serve customers in various locations and has annual revenue of $8.6 billion.
14. Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A, originally called the Dwarf House, opened in 1946 and quickly became famous for its chicken sandwiches and Sunday closures. In 1967, S. Truett Cathy founded the first official Chick-fil-A restaurant using the chicken sandwich recipe he had perfected while working at the Dwarf House.
The quality of Chick-fil-A's franchisees has contributed to the company's success with its income in 2022 reaching $6. 4 billion. Over 20,000 individuals apply to become Chick-fil-A franchisees annually even though there are only little more than 2,000 locations throughout the nation. It allows Chick-fil-A to pick and choose the people who run its locations. Chick-fil-A now has stores in both Canada and the United Kingdom.
15. Baskin Robbins
Baskin Robbins is the undisputed king of the ice cream and cake specialty market across more than 6,700 stores in almost 50 countries. The fast-food chain has launched over 1,300 new flavors since it first opened. According to available reports, Baskin Robbins' revenue for 2021 was $2.4 billion.
Enhance customer experience in your fast food business using digital signage
These international giants have successfully expanded their reach, offering diverse menus, innovative marketing strategies such as digital signage, and convenient dining experiences worldwide. The biggest fast food chain in the world will always look for a way to adapt to changing consumer preferences and emerging trends while shaping the future of fast food. Their restaurant profit depends on their adaptability to a diverse market. Look digital signage products can help make your food chain visible to clients, while at the same time enrich the customer experience in your establishment.
