For quick meals eating places, the three D’s drove progress in 2021: Drive-thru, supply and digital.
So-called quick-service eating places, which embrace the likes of Starbucks (SBUX) , McDonald’s (MCD) , Taco Bell, owned by Yum! Brands (YUM) , Chipotle (CMG) and Panda Express, tailored extra simply to pandemic situations than conventional sit-down eating places, and lots of have continued to scale back their in-person eating footprints to give attention to on-line ordering, drive-thru, takeout and supply service.
Restaurant business gross sales general had been down $65 billion in 2021, in contrast with 2019’s pre-pandemic ranges, in line with the National Restaurant Association, and 90,000 restaurant places quickly or completely closed due to the pandemic.
But quick-service shops fared much better, in line with an annual report by QSR Magazine, and main progress prospects are on the desk for quick casuals and fast-food shops.
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McDonald’s, for instance, the biggest fast-food chain, set a gross sales report in 2021: $112 billion—a brand new excessive mark in firm historical past, and up 21% from the earlier yr, in line with QSR’s annual report, the QSR50, which ranks the largest fast-food chains.
Digitally-enabled shops like Pizza Hut and Popeye’s steered away from the dine-in area and expanded their drive-thru lanes and haven’t regarded again.
Sonic mother or father firm Inspire Brands opened greater than 1,400 items in 2021, together with over 500 U.S. franchises. The group consists of Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin’, and Jimmy John’s, and generated home digital gross sales progress over 35%, year-over-year, to greater than $6 billion, the report says.
To rank the limited-service restaurant corporations, QSR Magazine and FoodserviceResults, a analysis and consulting agency specializing within the foodservice business, collected data straight from the businesses from March to May 2022, filings from the Securities and Exchange Commission, and knowledge from different sources. In some situations, estimates had been made.
Here are the largest fast-food eating places, ranked by whole U.S. systemwide gross sales, in line with the QSR50 report. All data displays 2021 fiscal efficiency.
1. McDonald’s
2021 U.S. systemwide gross sales: $45.96 billion
2021 whole items: 13,438
McDonald’s leads within the burger section, adopted by Wendy’s, Burger King and Sonic. The second yr of the pandemic didn’t decelerate the golden arches: McDonald’s system-wide gross sales rose 21% in 2021 to greater than $112 billion—a brand new excessive within the firm’s historical past, in line with the QSR50 report.
2. Starbucks
2021 U.S. systemwide gross sales: $24.3 billion
2021 whole items: 15,450
Starbucks leads within the snack section, adopted by Dunkin’, Dairy Queen and Krispy Kreme.
3. Chick-Fil-A
2021 U.S. systemwide gross sales: $16.7 billion
2021 whole items: 2,732
Chick-Fil-A leads within the hen section, adopted by KFC, Popeye’s, Raising Cane’s and Wingstop.
4. Taco Bell
2021 U.S. systemwide gross sales: $12.6 billion
2021 whole items: 7,002
Taco Bell leads within the international section, adopted by Chipotle, Panda Express and Del Taco.
5. Wendy’s
2021 U.S. systemwide gross sales: $11.11 billion
2021 whole items: 5,938
6. Dunkin’
2021 U.S. systemwide gross sales: $10.42 billion
2021 whole items: 9,244
7. Burger King
2021 U.S. systemwide gross sales: $10.03 billion
2021 whole items: 7,105
8. Subway
2021 U.S. systemwide gross sales: $9.35 billion
2021 whole items: 21,147
Subway leads the sandwich section, adopted by Panera, Arby’s and Jimmy John’s.
9. Domino’s
2021 U.S. systemwide gross sales: $8.64 billion
2021 whole items: 6,560
Domino’s leads the pizza section, adopted by Pizza Hut, Little Caesars and Papa John’s.