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Average Unit Volume for QSR Chains

Each year, the QSR 50 provides a deep dive looking at how the top quick-service brands stack up. One of the key measurements is average-unit volume, which illustrates how much chains are earning per store measured based on a mature base. This list includes 15 brands just outside the top 50. So this is a compilation of the top 45 AUVs among the 65 highest-grossing quick-service brands in America in terms of U.S. systemwide sales.

rank company category 2020 us systemwide sales millions 2020 average sales per unit thousands 2020 franchised units 2020 company units 2020 total units total change in units from 2019
1 McDonald’s Burger 40,518 2,944 13,025 657 13,682 -164
2 Starbucks* Snack 18,750 1,235 6,387 8,941 15,328 287
3 Chick-fil-A* Chicken 12,800 5,013 2,589 18 2,607 107
4 Taco Bell Global 11,000 1,648 6,324 475 6,799 33
5 Wendy’s Burger 10,231 1,725 5,520 361 5,881 29
6 Burger King Burger 9,657 1,414 7,029 52 7,081 -265
7 Dunkin’ Snack 8,762 930 9,083 0 9,083 -547
8 Subway Sandwich 8,318 375 22,190 0 22,190 -1,612
9 Domino’s Pizza 8,287 1,328 5,992 363 6,355 229
10 Chipotle Global 5,985 2,200 0 2,750 2,750 150
11 Sonic Drive-In Burger 5,680 1,611 3,255 271 3,526 0
12 Panera Bread* Sandwich 5,500 2,500 1,196 979 2,175 -50
13 Pizza Hut Pizza 5,400 938 6,539 22 6,561 -745
14 KFC Chicken 4,700 1,305 3,896 47 3,943 -122
15 Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Chicken 4,587 1,920 2,593 41 2,634 135
16 Arby’s Sandwich 4,215 1,273 2,176 1,193 3,369 10
17 Little Caesars* Pizza 4,000 940 3,629 582 4,211 -2
18 Dairy Queen Snack 3,978 912 4,359 2 4,361 -20
19 Panda Express Global 3,817 1,915 150 2,113 2,263 79
20 Jack in the Box Burger 3,673 1,660 2,097 144 2,241 -2
21 Papa John’s Pizza 3,198 1,008 2,546 588 3,134 -8
22 Whataburger Burger 2,698 3,197 114 730 844 14
23 Wingstop Chicken 2,000 1,489 1,506 32 1,538 153
24 Zaxby’s Chicken 2,000 2,200 760 145 905 10
25 Hardee’s Burger 2,000 1,100 1,563 203 1,766 -64
26 Culver’s Burger 1,986 2,624 776 6 782 50
27 Jimmy John’s Sandwich 1,925 772 2,662 43 2,705 -82
28 Raising Cane’s Chicken 1,722 3,850 92 417 509 52
29 Five Guys Burger 1,711 2,575 938 444 1,382 14
30 Jersey Mike’s Sandwich 1,595 936 1,842 14 1,856 189
31 Carl’s Jr. Burger 1,500 1,400 1,031 48 1,079 -21
32 Bojangles Chicken 1,374 1,861 432 326 758 12
33 In-N-Out Burger* Burger 1,100 3,060 0 365 365 11
34 El Pollo Loco Chicken 880 1,837 283 199 482 0
35 Del Taco Global 857 1,516 301 295 596 0
36 Checkers/Rally’s Burger 854 1,030 594 264 858 -17
37 Firehouse Subs Sandwich 840 741 1,102 38 1,140 -2
38 Krispy Kreme* Snack 830 2,259 83 276 369 4
39 Papa Murphy’s Pizza 805 622 1,233 59 1,292 -37
40 Steak ‘n’ Shake* Burger 800 1,563 276 280 556 -54
41 Qdoba Global 787 1,086 406 344 750 20
42 Marco’s Pizza Pizza 760 838 912 42 954 39
43 Church’s Chicken Chicken 741 820 753 160 913 -27
44 Tim Hortons Sandwich 702 1,109 633 0 633 -23
45 Tropical Smoothie Café Snack 690 841 913 1 914 80
46 Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Burger 643 1,681 356 32 388 20
47 McAlister’s Deli Sandwich 625 1,418 449 32 481 12
48 Baskin-Robbins Snack 620 248 2,419 0 2,419 -105
49 White Castle* Burger 565 1,527 0 365 365 -10
50 Moe’s Global 561 815 680 1 681 -41

*INCLUDES FIGURES ESTIMATED BY QSR.

About the QSR 50/ The QSR 50 is an annual ranking of limited-service restaurant companies by U.S. system-wide sales. QSR magazine collected information directly from restaurant companies from March to May 2020, and also partnered with FoodserviceResults, a research and consulting firm specializing in consumer research, data analysis, and insights to the foodservice industry. FoodserviceResults requested confirmation of U.S. sales, units, and average-unit volume from all leading chain restaurant corporate headquarters. Filings from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDD) transactional data, and statistics from other sources were amalgamated, reviewed, and analyzed to yield domestic sales, unit count, and average-unit volume. When necessary, estimates were made in order to more accurately report on restaurant industry leaders. All information reflects 2019 fiscal performance. Founded by industry veteran Darren Tristano, FoodserviceResults specializes in consumer research, data analysis, and insights to the foodservice industry.