Stack them up
From systemwide sales to average-unit volumes, the restaurant industry will always have its steadfast metrics. But few are more closely watched than unit count. Simply, which brands are growing? And which are retracting?
Each year, the QSR 50 takes the pulse of the quick-service landscape by diving into these figures, and more. The result is a telling peek inside one of the country’s most dynamic industries, often referred to as the heartbeat of the American consumer.
While it’s pulled back significantly in the last couple of years, sandwich giant Subway remains far and away the largest restaurant chain. It’s 24,798 domestic locations are 9,973 ahead of Starbucks—the second-biggest U.S. brand.
CHECK OUT LAST YEAR'S RESULTS
CHECK OUT THE UPDATED 2021 RANKINGS: America's 50 Biggest Fast-Food Chains
Here’s a breakdown of where the largest restaurants in the nation rank, if they’re expanding, shrinking, and which chains have sales to back it up.
Note: The unit count are by U.S. restaurants as of 2018 year end.
