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Sign up for our newsletter!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\t<\/span><\/p>\n <\/noscript>rblfmr \/ Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nStarbucks has had ar<\/span>ocky year so far with a growing number of its stores unionizing. But<\/span> in 2021, the chain saw big profits which reaffirmed its position as the second-largest quick-service chain in America. <\/span><\/p>\n“This is further evidence of the Great Human Reconnection,” said Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson of the company’s stellar 2021 year during <\/span>Fortune’s Global Forum conference<\/span>. “The rapid re-engagement of non-rewards customers not only propelled our record results but also underscores the strength of the brand and the growth potential ahead.”<\/span><\/p>\nThe company was able to reach more than $ 24 billion in sales in 2021, according to <\/span>Technomic’s Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report.<\/span><\/p>\nStarbucks boosted sales by leaning into its drive-thru, which represented nearly half of all its transactions during the pandemic. <\/span><\/p>\nAdditionally, the chain has been steadily increasing its prices due to inflation. The coffee chain has raised menu prices twice in a relatively short period of time: in<\/span> October of 2021, and again in January of this year, with plans for more price increases by the end of the year.<\/span> Still, nothing seems to be deterring its fans.<\/p>\n <\/noscript>Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nNumber three in the big league rankings, this “chicken little” is the smallest chain to compete with the heavyweights. At only 2,704 locations compared to McDonald’s 13,438 US units, Chick-fil-A packs quite a punch for its size. <\/span><\/p>\nIt reached $ 16.6 billion in sales last year, according to <\/span>Technomic’s Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report<\/span>. For Chick-fil-A, 2021 was a record-setting year in terms of revenue and earnings, according to <\/span>Franchise Times.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\nThe chain excelled during the pandemic by i<\/span>nnovating the drive-thru<\/span> like no other fast-food establishment. Arming workers with iPads and taking orders directly from cars while sectioning the parking lot into “zones” proved an effective approach.<\/span><\/p>\nAnd the company is still ahead of the game when it comes to innovation, currently testing a new <\/span>autonomous delivery service in Texas.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/noscript>Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nTechnomic’s Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report<\/span> indicates the Mexican fast-food chain has managed to bring in well over $ 12 billion in sales last year. It has also grown its footprint by about 200 locations in the US during that time.<\/span><\/p>\nThe chain owes its success to wasting no time in maneuvering the “new normal.” In the summer of 2020, Taco Bell introduced its new Rewards Program which featured a new <\/span>“fire” level of superfan<\/span>. Additionally, it unveiled the “<\/span>Go Mobile “<\/span> prototype store, which heightened drive-thru capabilities and curbside pickup.<\/span><\/p>\nLuckily for Taco Bell, reinforcing drive-thru was an obvious choice for navigating the pandemic. More than 70% of Taco Bell’s orders already come via the drive-thru, according to <\/span>Forbes<\/span><\/i>. By enhancing its digital footprint early on, Taco Bell was already ahead of the (bell) curve.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/noscript>Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAfter dethroning Burger King as the <\/span>nation’s second-favorite<\/span> burger chain<\/span> behind McDonald’s, Wendy’s has been riding high and it doesn’t appear to be relinquishing the title soon. <\/span><\/p>\nThe chain’s sales reached over $ 11 billion last year, according to <\/span>Technomic’s Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report.<\/span><\/p>\nPart of the success was due to Wendy’s hitting the right spot with its then-brand new morning menu in 2020. The chain generated 8.5% of its sales from breakfast last year, according to <\/span>Restaurant Business.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\nAdditionally, a few successful launches like the <\/span>Pretzel Bacon Pub Cheeseburger<\/span> and a focus on value have made Wendy’s marketing ring right with its customers \u2014 something that Burger King hasn’t been as good at.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/noscript>Dunkin ‘US \/ Facebook<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAmerica still runs on Dunkin ‘, even under the threat of a pandemic. The fast-food chain was able to keep business humming thanks to innovative drinks and a lot of customers looking to treat themselves to a donut during a crisis.<\/span><\/p>\nIn 2021, Dunkin ‘was able to hit over $ 10 billion in sales, according to <\/span>Technomic’s Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report.<\/span> Dunkin ‘has less than 10,000 locations in the US, making it a mid-size chain on this list.<\/span><\/p>\nLast year, the chain was catering to the home-office crowd, pushing new caffeinated beverages and mobile ordering. It introduced a lineup of matcha and oat-milk lattes, plus Dunkin ‘Refreshers, made with iced green tea. The move proved a smart one as the trendy new drinks were a success, with the brand declaring oat milk a new <\/span>guest favorite.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/noscript>Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nJust because it’s not America’s second-favorite fast-food burger chain anymore, doesn’t mean Burger King has completely fallen off the radar. In fact, the chain still enjoys plenty of fandom and is still one of the highest-grossing burger brands in the US<\/span><\/p>\nBK hit about $ 10 billion in sales last year, according to <\/span>Technomic’s Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report. <\/span>And while that was enough to land it in the # 7 spot among America’s biggest chains<\/span>the number demonstrates that Burger King still hasn’t gotten back to its <\/span>pre-pandemic sales levels. <\/span><\/p>\nThe chain has also closed about 250 US restaurants since the start of the pandemic, going from 7,346 in 2019 to 7,105 in 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/noscript>Subway \/ Yelp<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAmerica’s biggest sandwich shop landed in eighth place just like last year. But it is looking for a fresh start amid some <\/span>serious turmoil<\/span> in recent years. <\/span>6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e<\/span><\/p>\nSubway’s sales hit $ 9 billion last year, according to <\/span>Technomic’s Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report.<\/span> But the chain is still down compared to its pre-pandemic numbers \u2014 in 2019, its sales were at over $ 10 billion, which put it in sixth place on this list that year.<\/span><\/p>\nSubway has implemented some successful strategies in 2021, some of which created same-store sales that were <\/span>the strongest in 8 years<\/span>. In the summer of 2021, <\/span>it revamped its menu<\/span>, offering improved ingredients as well as several new sandwiches. Thanks to that move, its 5,000 top-performing domestic locations saw a 33% increase in sales during that time. <\/span><\/p>\nHowever, while the Eat Fresh Refresh menu overhaul worked to bring customers in the door, Subway was also closing doors en masse. Subway’s <\/span>franchisees shuttered more than 1,000 locations in 2021<\/span>bringing the chain’s US store count down to just over 21,000.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/noscript>Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDomino’s is the only fast-food pizza chain to make it to the top 10, although the pizza segment was hot during the pandemic. Pizza Hut follows at # 13 on the ranking, and Papa Johns at # 25. <\/span><\/p>\nWhile many restaurants were struggling to adapt to the pandemic, Domino’s was ready to deliver. The pizza giant was locked and loaded from the start and saw <\/span>sales boom at the onset of quarantine.<\/span><\/p>\nThe growth continued into 2021. The pizza chain’s sales last year were about $ 8.5 billion, according to <\/span>Technomic’s Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\nMore than any other pizza delivery chain, Domino’s had a robust digital platform, one that had unique features like “<\/span>hotspots<\/span>“which let people order pizza to locations outside of their houses (like the beach) and other outdoor areas.<\/span><\/p>\nThe chain is still innovating and has recently tested <\/span>self-driving delivery cars in Texas.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/noscript>Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOne surprising winner that came out of the pandemic was Chipotle, which traditionally had more dine-in sales. The brand had just launched its order-ahead drive-thru Chipotlanes a year prior to the pandemic. It also boosted its digital presence.<\/span><\/p>\nThe company is the highest-grossing fast-casual on the <\/span>Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report from Technomic.<\/span> The chain brought in $ 7.5 billion in sales last year and has been on a steady upward streak since 2019.<\/span><\/p>\nChipotle has managed to grow loyal customers since the start of the pandemic, recruiting 20 million users to its digital rewards program in one year since the program launched in March 2019. <\/span><\/p>\nGiven that it has less than 3,000 locations, Chipotle was able to garner enough sales with a loyal customer base to make the list of the top 10 biggest restaurant chains in the US, making it one of the smallest and most adaptable restaurants on the list.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When it comes to fast-food domination, these big-league chains compete on a global scale. America, however, has always been a fierce battleground as the original home of the quick-service meal and drive-thru culture. The annual Technomic’s Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report ranks the biggest chains in the nation by looking at last year’s top earners. …<\/p>\n
10 Biggest Fast-Food Chains In America Right Now – Eat This Not That<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.eatthis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/fast-food-s.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38653"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38653"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38653\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38653"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38653"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38653"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}