Subway overtakes McDonald's as biggest restaurant chain (2024)

FAQs

Subway overtakes McDonald's as biggest restaurant chain? ›

Subway is now officially the largest restaurant chain in the world. The company passed McDonald's in the United States in 2002 but it has now passed it worldwide. Subway had 33,749 restaurants worldwide at the end of last year, according to company reports, and McDonald's Corp. had 32,737.

Yes, Subway does actually have more locations than McDonald's. As hard as it may be to believe, Subway beat out McDonald's for the title of "world's largest restaurant chain" in 2011, notes CNN Money. In addition, Forbes reported that the eat fresh focused restaurant has over 43,000 locations across the globe.

COMPANY FINANCES

The store failure rate in 1999 was only 1 percent, down from 2 percent in earlier years. By 2000, sales had climbed to $4,720 million. In 2002, Subway finally overtook McDonald's as the largest restaurant chain in the country with 13,247 stores (148 more than McDonald's).

Subway - 42,998 Locations

Subway is privately held, owned, and operated by Doctors Associates Inc. Subway is the largest and the fastest-growing restaurant chains in the world with 42,998 restaurants in 112 countries and territories. Subway fast-food restaurant in the US alone has about 25,549 outlets.

What are the largest food chains in the United States in 2024? Subway, Mary's Gone Crackers and Starbucks are the largest food chains in the United States in 2024 based on the number of locations. Subway has the most number of locations with 20,603 locations across 54 states and territories.

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.

Each company possesses a strong brand and is an established name in the casual eating restaurant industry. With 40,953 locations worldwide, Subway beats out McDonald's as the largest global chain. McDonald's currently has 37,855 locations globally.

Surprisingly, the correct answer is actually Subway! Subway is the most popular fast-food chain (most restaurant locations) in 49 out of 50 states. Delaware isn't as interested in eating fresh. In the US, there are 24,568 Subways compared to 13,793 McDonald's locations.

McDonald's is the largest restaurant chain in the world, with 41,822 locations, about a third of which are in the U.S. The fast food chain saw sales of roughly $120 billion last year, according to FORTUNE.

In 1997, Subway released a campaign that advertised its seven low-fat sandwiches and compared them with other fast-food chains' burgers and tacos. By tapping into many Americans' priorities, Subway became the largest restaurant chain by number of locations in the US, passing McDonald's in 2002.

Who makes more money mcdonalds or Subway? ›

The Top 10 Fast-Food Restaurants by Sales in America

McDonald's: $37 billion in system-wide U.S. sales. Starbucks: $13 billion in system-wide U.S. sales. Subway: $10.8 billion in system-wide U.S. sales.

As of February 2023, Subway had approximately 37,000 locations in more than 100 countries, all independently owned and operated by a network of franchisees.

The sides (fries, potatoes chips) and drinks contributed more calories at McDonald's while the sandwich itself, more at Subway. Looking at the overall meal, the Subway meal in terms of protein and sugar was slightly healthier than McDonald's and provided more vegetables, however it was higher in sodium.

McDonald's was the most valuable fast food brand in the world with an estimated brand value of about 196.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2022.

Subway, the world's largest and most well-known submarine sandwich franchise, has a storied history that spans several decades. Founded by two young entrepreneurs in the mid-1960s, Subway has evolved into a global fast-food giant, with thousands of locations in nearly every corner of the world.

The most popular/most sold menu item at McDonald's worldwide is the French fries. This item is available in almost all McDonald's restaurants worldwide, and it has been a staple of the menu since the company's early days.

McDonald's: $37 billion in system-wide U.S. sales. Starbucks: $13 billion in system-wide U.S. sales. Subway: $10.8 billion in system-wide U.S. sales.

This ranking depicts the leading quick service sandwich and deli chains in the United States in 2022, by systemwide sales. Subway had the highest U.S. systemwide sales that year accounting for approximately 9.18 billion U.S. dollars.

Sandwich superstars

Since its humble beginnings in 1965, it's fair to say Subway has taken the world by storm. With over 37,500 locations in more than 100 countries, its worldwide presence surpasses that of Starbucks, KFC and Burger King.