The top KFC competitors are McDonalds, Burger King, Subway, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Domino’s Pizza and others. The demand for fast foods all over the world continues to increase. It can be seen from the manner that many fast food joints are opening their operation day by day in most of the urban centers all over the world. KFC is among the renowned fast food restaurants that have been in the industry for quite a significant duration. Its ability to penetrate to different types of markets is also a plus because it makes it easy for many people to have a close association with it.
KFC has more than 25,000 KFC restaurants in over 145 countries and territories around the world. This makes KFC the 4th largest fast-food restaurant in the world. Its revenue as of 2022 is $2.83B.
Ordinarily, Kentucky Fried Chicken specializes in serving fried chicken but has since added other chicken products, soft drinks, and fries on its menu. KFC faces a stiff challenge not only locally but overseas as well and has many international, national and regional competitors.
Table of Contents
Top KFC Competitors
1) McDonalds
- Product Type: Fast food
- Industry: Food services
- Founded: 1940
- Founders: Richard and Maurice McDonald
- Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Area served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Chris Kempczinski
- Revenue: $6.498B (June 30, 2023)
- Number of employees: 150,000 (2022)
- Market Share: 43.8%
- Market cap: $204.74B (September 04, 2023)
McDonald’s is perhaps the most potent competitor in the fast food restaurant chain business. It is often ranked as number one in most of the aspects revolving around this particular industry including, sales volume; customers served in a month, number of stores globally as well as the total revenue generated.
McDonald’s net income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $2.310B. McDonald’s gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $3.731B. McDonald’s operating income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $3.104B. McDonald’s also has more than 37,000 restaurants worldwide making it the largest fast-food chain in regards to a number of units globally. In the US alone, McDonald’s covers a market share of about 43.8% of the fast food industry making it a considerable force in the market.
It serves an array of food products including sandwiches, burger, and beverages and baking goods among others. Currently, it is the quick service restaurant chain that operates in almost all the major cities in as many countries as possible. McDonald’s is indeed a competitor to beat in this industry and continues to expand by trying to reach out to the untapped markets. Because of sheer distribution power, McDonalds is probably the strongest KFC Competitors in the market.
2) Burger King
- Product Type: Fast food, flame-grilled burgers
- Industry: Food services
- Founded: 1953 (as Insta-Burger King)
- Founders: Keith J. Kramer and Matthew Burns
- Headquarters: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
- Area served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: José Cil
- Revenue: $1.9B (2022)
- Number of employees: 150,000 (2022)
- Brand Value: $7.13 billion (2022)
- Parent: Restaurant Brands International
Burger King became a force to reckon in the fast food industry ever since it started its operation in this sector. Its main specialty in serving burgers strictly gave it an edge since it was able to specialize and offer the highest quality possible. Burger King provides stiff competition in the market and has stood out as one of the major players in this industry.
With a revenue of 1.9 billion dollars as at 2022, burger king has positioned itself as a force to reckon with in the fast food industry. Burger King operated and franchised a total of 19,789 restaurants worldwide in 2022. It is currently estimated that 90% of Burger King stores are owned and operated by independent franchisees. Burger King has continued to expand its menu and brand and a brand value of more than 7.13 billion dollars in 2022 highlights some of the company’s success.
Its continued expansion in both the local and overseas markets is a sign that it is indeed growing to match other players in this particular industry. Furthermore, it has been able to add more food products on its menu as a way of satisfying the needs of different clients who would necessarily prefer to supplement their burgers. Burger king is one of the trio of the widest distributed burger chains across the globe and hence it is the second highest KFC competitors.
3) Subway
- Product Type: Submarine sandwiches, wraps, salads, and drinks
- Industry: Fast food
- Founded: 1965
- Founders: Fred DeLuca and Peter Buck
- Headquarters: Milford, Connecticut, United States
- Area served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Suzanne Greco
- Number of employees: 410,000(2022)
Subway has now been in the fast food business for half a decade, a clear sign that is a brand you can disregard at your own peril. All this time it has expanded both locally and globally with the aim of reaching out to as many customers as possible. The fact that it established its trademark by coining its specialty in serving marine sandwiches also enabled it to find grounds to operate in. Privately owned, Subway has close to 37,000 locations in over 100 countries as at 2023.
The continuous trend that this particular brand portrays is a clear indication that it is not a one to rule out as a minor competitor. Its expansion and increased number of customer all over the world instead makes it among the top players in this industry.
4) Dunkin Donuts
- Product Type: Coffee, donuts, and other baked goods
- Industry: Quick service restaurant (QSR)
- Founded: 1950
- Founder: Bill Rosenberg
- Headquarters: Canton, Massachusetts, United States
- Area served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: David Hoffmann
- Number of employees: 200,000
- Market capitalization: $8.77 Billion (August 2023)
Dunkin Donuts comes out as one of the leading fast-food restaurant chains with the most franchised stores all over the world. When it was initially established, its primary focus was to serve coffee and donuts to its customers. However, along with the line, demand for more products came up, and it decided to add soft drinks, hot and cold beverages as well as breakfast menu on its predominantly coffee menu.
With over 3,100 stores in over 30 countries outside of the US, Dunkin’ Donuts has been serving loyal customers around the world for over 60 years. There are 9,461 Dunkin Donuts locations in the United States as of July 25, 2023.
Its expansion in most of the American and European markets is also a revelation that it has established itself as an active player in the market hence its operations can never be disregarded at any given time in the near future.
5) Starbucks
- Product Type: Coffee, tea, pastries, and other food items
- Industry: Coffeehouse
- Founded: 1971
- Founders: Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker, and Zev Siegl
- Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
- Area served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Howard Schultz
- Revenue: $9.168B (June 30, 2023)
- Number of employees: 402,000 (2022)
- Market Share: 37%
- Market cap: $112.25B (September 04, 2023)
Starbucks main competitor in the market happens to be Dunkin Donuts. It is also a fast food restaurant chain that all along has been known for serving coffee. Starbucks style of operation is just unique making it among the top-ranked quick service joints in the world. It has also continued to expand its stores in major markets including Middle East, Europe, Asia, Latin America as well as most parts of Africa.
Starbucks net income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $1.142B. Starbucks gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $6.304B. The company is ranked 120th on the Fortune 500 and 303rd on the Forbes Global 2000 as of 2022.
It has become apparent that Starbucks is not only generating more revenue both operating and net but also establishing a brand value that will probably remain among the top players in this market. Although Starbucks is mostly known for coffee, it has several other fast food offerings and hence is considered as one of KFC Competitors.
6) Pizza Hut
- Product Type: Pizza, pasta, and other Italian dishes
- Industry: Restaurant chain
- Founded: 1958
- Founders: Dan and Frank Carney
- Headquarters: Plano, Texas, United States
- Area served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: David Gibbs
- Revenue: $12.853 billion (2022)
- Number of employees: 350,000+
- Parent: Yum! Brands
Pizza Hut became among the leading quick service restaurant chain players after realizing that it can also fill the gap that other service providers had not exploited. Ever since it started operating, it has remained steadfast in offering best service possible as well as meeting the specific needs of its customer base as efficient as it can.
Pizza Hut has grown and expanded to the over 19,034 stores worldwide as of 2022. In 2022, Pizza Hut also records an average US sales of $5,487.
Its ability to provide pizza delivery and takeaway services as appropriate as needed has also boosted its profile in becoming among the highly ranked fast food outlet in the world. Pizza Hut has in the recent years, record highest sales volume and customer satisfaction levels, which has also made its operations in newer markets relatively easy. Although it is an indirect competitor, it has a strong influence on consumer purchasing and hence is considered as one of the KFC Competitors.
7) Domino’s Pizza
- Product Type: Pizza
- Industry: Restaurant chain
- Founded: 1960
- Founders: Tom Monaghan and James Monaghan
- Headquarters: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Area served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Russell Weiner
- Revenue: $1.025B (June 30, 2023)
- Market cap: $13.73B (September 05, 2023)
- Number of employees: 11,000 (2022)
Domino’s Pizza also offers more or less similar services like Pizza Hut. It majors in providing pizza delivery as well as takeaway services in its various joints located in different parts of the world.
It is spread across in more than 90 international markets.
Domino’s Pizza Inc net income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $0.109B. Domino’s Pizza Inc gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $0.405B.
Domino’s Pizza’s expansion to relatively newer markets and continuously succeeding in making high sales and consequent profits have shown that indeed it is not a brand that has plans to exit the market anytime soon. It has mastered the art of satisfying the customers both at the outlets as well as delivery points hence making it easy for as many customers to relate to the brand.
8) Taco Bell
- Product Type: Mexican-inspired fast food
- Industry: Fast food restaurant
- Founded: 1962
- Founder: Glen Bell
- Headquarters: Irvine, California, United States
- Area served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Mark King
- Revenue: $14.653 billion (2022)
- Parent: Yum! Brands worldwide outside of China, Yum China within China
Taco Bell specializes in serving Mexican foods and has also been in the industry for relatively a considerable time. It is this specialty that has given it an advantage to even rank among the top players since it makes it easy for a customer to identify with it especially when looking for a joint to have Mexican cuisine.
Mexican inspired quick service chain Taco Bell operated a total of 8,218 restaurants in 32 different countries worldwide in 2022. However, close to 7,817 of these outlets are based in the United States of America while the remaining are located in different countries where this particular restaurant chain operates.
Taco Bell might be serving Mexican foods, but it should be noted that it is American-owned although it has outlets in Mexico and other countries where residents enjoy Mexican cuisines. Its commitment to providing quality service illustrates its dominance in the quick service business.
9) Wendy’s
- Product Type: Hamburgers, chicken, salads, and fries
- Industry: Fast food restaurant
- Founded: 1969
- Founder: Dave Thomas
- Headquarters: Dublin, Ohio, United States
- Area served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Todd Penegor
- Revenue: $562 million (June 30, 2023)
- Number of employees: 14,500 (2022)
- Market Capitalization: $4.51B (August 2023)
- Parent: The Wendy’s Company
Wendy’s became a household name in the fast food service business way back in 1969 when its first store opened doors and 1976 when it opened its 500th store. It majored in serving burger, but along the way, upon realization of its potential in becoming a top brand in this industry, it added more food on its menu including soft drinks, beverages, and fries.
Wendys’ currently has 6,500 restaurants in the United States and 29 countries. Wendy’s own more than 100 quick service restaurants in Florida alone. The company was formed in 1969 by Dave Thomas.
Wendy’s revenue as at 2023 stood at about 562 million dollars with a net income of over 60 million dollars.
Wendy’s has been involved a fair share of business dealing with other partners in the industry all along in bid some experts view as an advantage to its operations since such deals allow it to expand and maximize its potency in the market. It thus implies that Wendy’s is also an active competitor in this industry that can never be overlooked. Wendy’s has a strong market share in US and its social media marketing is top notch and hence it is one of the top KFC competitors in US.
10) Chipotle
- Product Type: Fast casual Mexican food
- Industry: Restaurant chain
- Founded: 1993
- Founder: Steve Ells
- Headquarters: Newport Beach, California, United States
- Area served: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and France
- Current CEO: Brian Niccol
- Revenue: $0.342B (June 30, 2023)
- Market cap: $53.48B (September 04, 2023)
- Number of employees: 104,958(2022)
Just like Taco Bell, Chipotle also specializes in serving Mexican foods to its clientele. It has been a significant player in this particular industry since it opened its first doors and has continued to command a fair share of the market ever since. It has several outlets both in the US and also in other different towns and cities, especially in Europe.
Chipotle had over 3,200 restaurants as of March 31, 2023, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany and is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants. There are 3,236 Chipotle restaurants in the United States as of August 16, 2023.
As at 2023, Chipotle’s revenue was $0.342B while it had assets worth $7.552B with a net income of $0.342B in the same year.
The fact that Chipotle has been in business for about 25 years but is ranked among the leading brand in the fast food service industry is a clear indication of its potency. Its revenue is also increasing alluding to the fact that its brand awareness is also becoming stronger day by day.
11) Tim Horton’s
- Product Type: Coffee, donuts, and other baked goods
- Industry: Restaurant chain
- Founded: 1964
- Founders: Tim Horton and Ron Joyce
- Headquarters: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
- Area served: Canada, United States, Mexico, United Kingdom, and China
- Current CEO: José Cil
- Revenue: 2.63 billion U.S. dollars (2022)
- Net sales: US$2 billion (Q2, 2023)
- Number of employees: over 100,000
- Parent: Wendy’s (1995–2006) and Restaurant Brands International (2014–present)
Tim Horton’s has grown to arguably become one of the leading players in the fast-food restaurant business. It is a Canadian brand that was established by a former hockey player. Tim Horton’s is currently the leading coffee shop in Canada and has also continuously expanded in other areas within America and a few parts of Europe.
Tim Horton’s is the largest fast-food restaurant chain in Canada with more than 5000 outlets worldwide as at 2023 in 50 countries. It serves donuts and coffee. Its revenue as of 2022 was 2.63 billion dollars. Tim Hortons is Canada’s fifth most valuable brand.
In the interest of making it a more prominent brand, it merged with Burger King but has however remained steadfast in offering its services as an independent business. Tim Horton’s is apparently not an ordinary player in this particular industry, and since its expanding in other unexploited markets, it shows it’s here to stay and offer the best the industry can provide.
12) Papa John’s Pizza
- Product Type: Pizza
- Industry: Restaurant chain
- Founded: 1984
- Founder: John Schnatter
- Headquarters: Louisville, Kentucky, United States
- Area served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Robert Lynch
- Revenue: $515 million (June 30, 2023)
- Number of employees: 12,000 (2022)
Papa John’s Pizza offers pizza delivery and readymade services to its customers. It started as small start-up business but has over the years expanded to become one of the key brands in the quick-service industry. Papa John’s Pizza commitment to making sure that customers are satisfied with the service they obtain is among some of the aspects that have made it possible to establish itself as a strong brand in this industry.
As at 2023, its revenue is 515 billion dollars with over 12,000 employees working in the more than 5,706 branches that it operated. Papa John’s is the fourth largest pizza delivery restaurant chain in the United States.
Other than better service, it also makes efforts to expand to other parts of the country (USA) as well as finding a way of reaching out to the untapped markets especially in Europe where there is a fanatical liking of pizza. It is thus a critical brand in this particular market to watch.
13) Chick-fil-A
- Product Type: Chicken sandwiches, chicken strips, and other chicken dishes
- Industry: Fast food restaurant
- Founded: 1946
- Founder: S. Truett Cathy
- Headquarters: College Park, Georgia, United States
- Area served: United States
- Current CEO: Dan Cathy
Chick-fil-A is a fast-food chain that was founded in 1946 by S. Truett Cathy in Hapeville, Georgia. The company is known for its signature original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, which was developed in the Dwarf Grill (now known as The Dwarf House® restaurant). The sandwich is made with a hand-breaded, perfectly seasoned, and pressure-cooked filet served on a toasted, buttery bun with two pickle chips. The company has grown beyond its roots in Atlanta and is now delivering its signature brand of service and food to guests in 48 states, Washington, D.C., Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Chick-fil-A is committed to a workplace culture where everyone is treated with honor, dignity, and respect. The company’s policies, practices, and benefits support this commitment. Chick-fil-A is purpose-driven, and its purpose is to create positive impact on all who come in contact with the company.
Chick-fil-A’s revenue in 2022 was $5.8 billion. Chick-fil-A’s domestic system sales reached $18.8 billion in 2022.
14) Jack in the Box
- Product Type: Fast food, hamburgers, tacos, and other American cuisine
- Industry: Quick service restaurant (QSR)
- Founded: 1951
- Founder: Robert O. Peterson
- Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States
- Area served: United States and Guam
- Current CEO: Darin Harris
- Revenue: $402.8 million (Q4, 2022)
- Market cap: $1.53 Billion (September 2023)
Jack in the Box is a fast-food restaurant chain that was founded in 1951 by Robert O. Peterson in San Diego, California. The restaurant became popular in 1994 after a highly successful marketing campaign that featured the fictitious Jack in the Box chairman Jack character.
Jack in the Box reported a surge of 44.6% in total revenues, to $402.8 million, in the fourth quarter (Q4) ended 2 October 2022. Jack in the Box same-store sales increased by 4.0% in Q4 2022 and 0.9% for FY 2022. Jack in the Box to open 25-30 restaurants, expects positive net unit growth in FY 2023.
15) Arby’s
- Product Type: Fast food, roast beef sandwiches, and other sandwiches
- Industry: Quick service restaurant (QSR)
- Founded: 1964
- Founders: Forrest Raffel and Leroy Raffel
- Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Area served: The United States, Canada, Turkey, and the United Kingdom
- Current CEO: Paul Brown
- Number of employees: 80,000 employees (2022)
Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. is the franchisor of the Arby’s Brand and is part of the Inspire Brands family of restaurants headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. Arby’s, founded in 1964, is the second-largest sandwich restaurant brand in the world with more than 3,500 restaurants in nine countries.
The company’s headquarters are located in Sandy Springs, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Arby’s is the flagship property of Inspire Brands, the renamed Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (ARG). Arby’s has locations in six countries outside the United States: Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, and South Korea.
Arby’s is one of the most popular restaurant franchises in the US: they had over 3,400 restaurants across the US in 2022. Arby’s has restaurants in 8 countries.
16) Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
- Product Type: Fried chicken, chicken sandwiches, and other Louisiana cuisine
- Industry: Fast food restaurant
- Founded: 1972
- Founder: Al Copeland
- Headquarters: Miami, Florida, United States
- Area served: The United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia
- Current CEO: David Gibbs
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc., also known as Popeyes, is a popular fast-food chain that has been expanding globally since its inception in 1972. The chain is known for its delicious chicken dishes in mild and spicy flavors. The chain was founded by Al Copeland in 1972 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Popeyes was expanding regionally, nationally, and internationally throughout the 1980s, and it was a time of innovation and experimentation for the brand.
Popeyes’ system-wide sales grew nearly 13% in 2022, with digital sales accounting for over a third of system-wide sales, amounting to over $13.5 billion. The company boasts over 4,000 locations across the globe including locations in 40 states in the United States and over 30 countries globally. They recently made plans public to further expand their franchise business with 35 new locations.
17) SSP Group
- Product Type: Food and beverage concessions
- Industry: Contract foodservice
- Founded: 1961
- Founders: SAS Catering
- Headquarters: London, England
- Area served: 35 countries
- Current CEO: Patrick F. Coveney
- Revenue: £2,185.4 million (2022)
- Number of employees: 29,048 (2022)
- Market cap: $2.38 Billion (September 2023)
SSP Group is a British multinational contract foodservice company that operates more than 2,800 branded catering and retail units at over 180 airports and 300 railway stations across 35 countries as a concessionaire. It was established as a division of Scandinavian airline SAS Group under the name of SAS Catering in 1961 and its Select Service Partner (SSP) division was acquired by Compass Group in May 1993 for £72 million1. SSP Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. It operates more than 2,800 branded catering and retail units at over 180 airports and 300 railway stations across 35 countries as a concessionaire.
SSP Group’s purpose is to be the best part of the journey, from providing rewarding and fulfilling career journeys for its colleagues to providing great experiences for its customers.
The net income in 2022 was £9.9 million.
18) Raising Cane’s
- Product Type: Chicken fingers
- Industry: Fast food restaurant
- Founded: 1996
- Founders: Todd Graves and Craig Silvey
- Headquarters: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
- Area served: Over 500 locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico
- Current CEO: Todd Graves
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is an American fast-food restaurant chain that specializes in chicken fingers. It was founded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1996 by Todd Graves and Craig Silvey. The company is named after Graves’s dog, a yellow Labrador. Raising Cane’s has 694 locations across the United States, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The chain’s menu is simple, focusing on quality chicken finger meals, and they claim to serve them better than anyone else.
Raising Cane’s has a loyal following and is known for its quality food and fast service. The chain has a unique culture and is committed to giving back to the community. Raising Cane’s has been successful in expanding its business over the years and continues to grow.
19) Bojangles’ Famous Chicken’ n Biscuits
- Product Type: Fried chicken, biscuits, and other Southern cuisine
- Industry: Fast food restaurant
- Founded: 1977
- Founders: Jack Fulk and Richard Thomas
- Headquarters: Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
- Area served: Southeastern United States
- Current CEO: Jose Armario
Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits is an American regional chain of fast-food restaurants that specializes in Cajun-seasoned fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits. The company was founded in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1977 by Jack Fulk and Richard Thomas. They offer a variety of fast food, including fried chicken, biscuits, and french fries.
The chain has 801 locations in 15 states, with an additional 3 states in the future. Bojangles’ is known for its crispy and uniquely Cajun-spiced fried chicken and legendary biscuits. Bojangles’ specializes in Cajun-seasoned fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits2. Some of their popular products in 2022 include the Cajun Chicken Filet Biscuit, Sweet Potato Pie, and the Cajun Filet Biscuit Combo.
20) Church’s Chicken
- Product Type: Fried chicken
- Industry: Fast food restaurant
- Founded: 1952
- Founder: George W. Church Sr.
- Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Area served: Over 1,500 locations in the United States, Mexico, Honduras, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela
- Current CEO: Joe G. Erlinger IV
Church’s Texas Chicken is an American fast-food restaurant chain that specializes in fried chicken and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The chain was founded by George W. Church Sr. on April 17, 1952, in San Antonio, Texas, across the street from The Alamo. As of 2022, Church’s Texas Chicken operates more than 1,500 locations worldwide.
Church’s Chicken is known for its authentic Texas-style fried chicken and bold flavors. The chain has been in business for over seven decades and has remained true to its roots. The restaurant chain has expanded globally and is currently owned by American private equity firm High Bluff Capital Partner.
The revenue in 2022 was US$ 1.3 billion. A Church’s Texas Chicken franchise makes $1.4 million in sales per year.
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