The Biggest Ice Cream and Fast-Food Chains in America
Americans love their food, and that’s especially true when it comes to ice cream and fast-food. So, what are the biggest ice cream and fast-food chains in America? While the No. 1 biggest fast-food chain isn’t a surprise, some of the others on the tally might surprise you. The same is true for ice cream.
The Biggest Ice Cream and Fast-Food Chains in America
Let’s start with fast-food chains. The experts at Technomic have published their annual chain restaurant report, which is something they’ve been doing since 1974. “What started as the Top 100 Report has since evolved into the Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report, the industry’s leading performance tracker, published by an independent source you can trust,” they state on their website. As for methodology, ” The report—built using decades of historical data—provides a detailed analysis of the foodservice industry and overarching trends, annual sales and unit counts by chain and segment, and Top 500 sales forecasts for 2024.”
No. 1 on the tally (via nrn.com) for the biggest fast-food chains, big surprise, is McDonald’s. The chain was founded in 1955, and their sales for 2023 was an impressive $53.1 billion. As of 2023, they have 13,457 restaurants in the U.S. No. 2 on the tally is Starbucks, which surprised me, because I don’t really think of Starbucks as a fast-food chain. They were founded in 1971 and had $31.6 billion in sales in 2023. No. 3 on the roster is Chick-fil-A, which was founded in 1967 and did $21.6 billion in sales in 2023.
Now, onto ice cream. I could go for some ice cream right now. Just saying. According to the experts are Eatthis.com, the most popular and biggest ice cream chain in America is Baskin-Robbins. That’s interesting to me, because we haven’t had a Baskin-Robbins near where I live for years. But, they do have tons of great flavors. I remember loving their Bubble Gum flavor as a kid. Eatthis.com notes that “most Americans know Baskin-Robbins as the ice cream chain that offers not one, not 10 but 31 different ice creams ranging from Rocky Road to Cotton Candy to the nutty, coffee-flavored Jamoca Almond Fudge.” They add, “Even if you manage to sample everything on the permanent menu, you’ll almost always have something new to try at Baskin-Robbins thanks to its ever-rotating flavors of the month. No. 2 on the tally is Salt & Straw, and No. 3. Carvel. I was surprised to see Dairy Queen at No. 5 on the tally, since I thought it would be higher. Their blizzards are incredible. Read below for some food items to skip at restaurants, by the way.
You Should Probably Skip These Foods At A Breakfast Buffet
Eggs
Many establishments opt for powdered eggs instead of fresh ones, as it’s a cost-effective way to prepare large quantities of scrambled eggs to cater to numerous guests at once. However, powdered eggs cannot compare to the taste, texture, and color of their fresh counterparts. Another concern lies in the fact that these eggs are pre-cooked, which means they might sit at unsafe temperatures for extended periods.
According to the FDA, serving eggs immediately after cooking is crucial to prevent foodborne illnesses. Unfortunately, in a buffet setting, it’s challenging to determine how long the eggs have been sitting out.
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Fruit
Unless you witnessed the fruit being freshly prepared in the kitchen, it’s nearly impossible to gauge how long that eye-catching fruit display has been sitting there. According to the FDA, when fruits are cut, their protective skins are breached, leaving the flesh vulnerable to the surrounding environment and any potential bacteria. This creates two primary reasons that heighten the risk of contamination. Firstly, cutting the fruit makes its water content and nutrients readily available to microorganisms. Secondly, without any heating process, disease-causing germs aren’t eliminated, further contributing to the potential hazards of consuming cut fruits from a buffet display.
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Waffles
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There’s a joy of pouring your own batter into a Belgian waffle maker, flipping it eagerly, and waiting for that gratifying green light before embellishing it with toppings. However, it’s best to exercise caution and avoid the waffle station. As per TikToker Brandi Augustus, a former hotel employee, the waffle batter served there is often old and sour. Instead of disposing of the old batter, new batter is mixed with it. It’s worth noting that not all places offering breakfast buffets adhere to this practice, but it’s wise to stay informed and make a decision based on the circumstances.
