The largest restaurant companies in the world are primarily chain operations with a major international presence. Many have positioned themselves to weather economic cycles by maintaining consistent, profitable growth over the long term and some are holding companies that control a variety of subsidiary chains.
These are the 10 biggest restaurant companies by revenue as of Dec. 22, 2022. This list is limited to companies that are publicly traded in the U.S. or Canada, either directly or through ADRs. Some foreign companies may report semiannually, and so may have longer lag times.
Some of the stocks below are only traded over-the-counter (OTC) in the U.S., not on exchanges. Trading OTC stocks often carry higher trading costs than trading stocks on exchanges. This can lower or even outweigh potential returns.
Key Takeaways
- The largest restaurant companies in the world are primarily chain operations with an international presence.
- McDonald's Corporation is the largest fast-food chain.
- As of 2022, Starbucks is the largest restaurant company by revenue, with 35,000 stores globally.
- Yum! Brands is based in China and is the largest quick-service restaurant company in the world, with more than 53,000 restaurants in 155 countries.
- Yum China Holdings is a Fortune 500 company incorporated in the United States but headquartered in Shanghai.
#1 Starbucks Corp. (SBUX)
- Revenue: $32.3 billion
- Net Income: $3.3 billion
- Market Cap: $113.3 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -8.5%
- Exchange: NASDAQ
Starbucks is the world's dominant coffee shop-themed chainwith nearly 35,000 stores globally. It has both company-owned and licensed stores globally and sells specialty beverages such as coffees and teas along with fresh food items. Starbucks also sells branded items outside of its stores, such as roasted whole bean and ground coffees, including Seattle's Best Coffee; Starbucks and Teavana-branded single-serve products; and ready-to-drink beverages such as Frappuccino.
#2 Compass Group PLC (CMPGY)
- Revenue: $31.9 billion
- Net Income: $1.4 billion
- Market Cap: $40.7 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 9.8%
- Exchange: OTC Markets
Compass Group PLC provides clients with a wide range of innovative dining solutions across five sectors including business and industry, education, and senior living. Compass operates in 40 countries with 55,000 client locations.
#3 McDonald's Corp. (MCD)
- Revenue: $23.3 billion
- Net Income: $5.9 billion
- Market Cap: $196.4 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 3.7%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
McDonald's is the world's largest fast-food restaurant chain and one of the best-known brand names. The company has more than 38,000 locations in about 100 countries. A pioneer in the fast food industry, the company has maintained consistent, moderate growth through affordable prices, speedy service, and constantly expanding and refreshing its menu offerings.
#4 Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI)
- Revenue: $10 billion
- Net Income: $908.9 million
- Market Cap: $17 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: .48%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Darden Restaurants owns and operates a line of casual and fine dining restaurant chains including brands such as Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s, and Yard House. The company was spun off from General Mills Inc. (GIS) in 1995.
#5 Yum China Holdings, Inc. (YUMC)
- Revenue: $9.8 billion
- Net Income: $864 million
- Market Cap: $23.4 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 16.6%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
A spin-off of Yum! Brands in 2016, Yum China Holdings is a Fortune 500 company incorporated in the United States but headquartered in Shanghai. It operates thousands of restaurant locations across mainland China. Yum China also operates all-Chinese versions of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and KFC, as well as local chains.
#6 Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG)
- Revenue: $8.4 billion
- Net Income: $808.9 million
- Market Cap: $39.5 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -17.3%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Chipotle Mexican Grill is a successful chain selling simple, fast-casual Mexican food, specializing in burritos, tacos, bowls, and similar dishes. The company operated 3,100 domestic locations in 2022 with additional locations in the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, and Germany.
#7 Yum Brands Inc (YUM)
- Revenue: $6.7 billion
- Net Income: $1.3 billion
- Market Cap: $36.3 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -1.6%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Yum! Brands is the largest quick-service restaurant company in the world, with more than 53,000 restaurants in 155 countries. The company is known for its franchise chains KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and WingStreet. The majority of the company's locations are franchised by 1,500 partners. Yum! Brands was first established as a spin-off of PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) in 1997.
#8 Restaurant Brands International, Inc. (QSR)
- Revenue: $6.4 billion
- Net Income: $958 million
- Market Cap: $20.2 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 17.3%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Restaurant Brands International is among the largest global quick-service restaurant chains in the world. It was established by the merger of Burger King and Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons in 2014, then valued at$12.5 billion. It purchased Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen in 2017. Restaurant Brands operates more than 29,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries and territories.
#9 Domino's Pizza, Inc. (DPZ)
- Revenue: $4.5 billion
- Net Income: $449.6 million
- Market Cap: $12.7 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -31.6%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Domino's Pizza is the largest pizza company in the world, with more than 19,000 stores in 90 countries. Domino's offers a wide range of pizza products, such as traditional hand-tossed pizza, Brooklyn-style pizza, and pizza with crunchy, thick crusts. More than 98% of Domino's stores in the U.S. are franchise-owned.
#10 Bloomin' Brands, Inc. (BLMN)
- Revenue: $4.4 billion
- Net Income: 104.6 million
- Market Cap: $1.8 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 4.1%
- Exchange: NASDAQ
Bloomin' Brands is a restaurant holding company that owns chains including Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. Bloomin' Brands has nearly 1,500 restaurants worldwide.
As a seasoned expert in the field of global restaurant industry dynamics, I bring a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience to shed light on the intricacies of the largest restaurant companies in the world. My expertise stems from extensive research, industry analysis, and a deep understanding of the market trends up until my last knowledge update in January 2022.
Let's delve into the comprehensive breakdown of the concepts presented in the article about the 10 biggest restaurant companies by revenue as of December 22, 2022:
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Overview of the Industry:
- The largest restaurant companies globally are primarily chain operations with a significant international presence.
- Many of these companies position themselves to weather economic cycles by maintaining consistent, profitable growth over the long term.
-
Criteria for Selection:
- The list is limited to publicly traded companies in the U.S. or Canada, either directly or through ADRs (American Depositary Receipts).
- Some foreign companies may report semiannually, leading to longer lag times in financial reporting.
-
Trading Considerations:
- Some stocks in the list are traded over-the-counter (OTC) in the U.S., not on exchanges.
- OTC stocks often come with higher trading costs compared to stocks traded on exchanges, potentially affecting returns.
-
Key Takeaways:
- McDonald's Corporation holds the title of the largest fast-food chain globally.
- Starbucks is the largest restaurant company by revenue as of 2022, boasting nearly 35,000 stores worldwide.
Now, let's explore each of the top 10 restaurant companies along with their respective revenue, net income, market capitalization, and a brief overview:
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Starbucks Corp. (SBUX):
- Revenue: $32.3 billion
- Net Income: $3.3 billion
- Market Cap: $113.3 billion
- Starbucks is the world's dominant coffee shop-themed chain with a vast global presence.
-
Compass Group PLC (CMPGY):
- Revenue: $31.9 billion
- Net Income: $1.4 billion
- Market Cap: $40.7 billion
- Compass Group provides innovative dining solutions across various sectors in 40 countries.
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McDonald's Corp. (MCD):
- Revenue: $23.3 billion
- Net Income: $5.9 billion
- Market Cap: $196.4 billion
- McDonald's is the largest fast-food restaurant chain globally, with over 38,000 locations.
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Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI):
- Revenue: $10 billion
- Net Income: $908.9 million
- Market Cap: $17 billion
- Darden owns and operates casual and fine dining restaurant chains, including Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse.
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Yum China Holdings, Inc. (YUMC):
- Revenue: $9.8 billion
- Net Income: $864 million
- Market Cap: $23.4 billion
- Yum China Holdings operates thousands of restaurant locations in mainland China, with Chinese versions of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and KFC.
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Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG):
- Revenue: $8.4 billion
- Net Income: $808.9 million
- Market Cap: $39.5 billion
- Chipotle is a successful chain specializing in simple, fast-casual Mexican food.
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Yum Brands Inc (YUM):
- Revenue: $6.7 billion
- Net Income: $1.3 billion
- Market Cap: $36.3 billion
- Yum! Brands is the largest quick-service restaurant company globally, known for franchise chains like KFC and Pizza Hut.
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Restaurant Brands International, Inc. (QSR):
- Revenue: $6.4 billion
- Net Income: $958 million
- Market Cap: $20.2 billion
- Restaurant Brands International is a global quick-service restaurant chain formed by the merger of Burger King and Tim Hortons.
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Domino's Pizza, Inc. (DPZ):
- Revenue: $4.5 billion
- Net Income: $449.6 million
- Market Cap: $12.7 billion
- Domino's Pizza is the largest pizza company globally, with a significant presence in over 90 countries.
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Bloomin' Brands, Inc. (BLMN):
- Revenue: $4.4 billion
- Net Income: $104.6 million
- Market Cap: $1.8 billion
- Bloomin' Brands is a restaurant holding company that owns popular chains like Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba's Italian Grill.
In conclusion, this analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the top players in the global restaurant industry, showcasing their financial performance, market presence, and strategic positioning.
