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15 fast food chains that make the most money per location

The quest for value differs among individual locations, with some reporting annual sales exceeding $7 million

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Image: Robert Gauthie (Getty Images)

In the fiercely competitive world of Big Food, a handful of restaurants stand out not just for their popularity, but for their impressive earnings.

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Diners may be voicing their concerns over rising prices, but they continue to satisfy their cravings at some of America’s top fast food chains, as revealed in QSR Magazine’s annual ranking earlier this year.

Gathering sales data from various chains between March and May of this year, the publication found that McDonald’s (MCD), Starbucks (SBUX), and Chick-fil-A reign supreme in the quick service arena. However, the quest for value differs among individual locations, with some reporting annual sales exceeding $7 million.

Per QSR, these are the top 15 fast food chains that generate the most annual revenue per location, including average sales figures, and the total number of locations.

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15. Wendy’s

15. Wendy’s

Wendy’s restaurant in New York.
Wendy’s restaurant in New York.
Image: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto (Getty Images)
  • Average sales per location: $2 million
  • Store count: 6,030
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14. Taco Bell

14. Taco Bell

Taco Bell in New York City
Taco Bell in New York City
Image: Plexi Images/GHI/Universal Images Group (Getty Images)
  • Average sales per location: $2.1 million
  • Store count: 7,405
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13. El Pollo Loco

13. El Pollo Loco

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Image: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times (Getty Images)
  • Average sales per location: $2.2 million
  • Store count: 495
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12.Bojangles

12.Bojangles

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  • Average sales per location: $2.3 million
  • Store count: 813
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11. Panda Express

11. Panda Express

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  • Average sales per location: $2.5 million
  • Store count: 2,420
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10. Zaxby’s

10. Zaxby’s

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  • Average sales per location: $2.7 million
  • Store count: 942
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9. Chipotle

9. Chipotle

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  • Average sales per location: $3 million
  • Store count: 3,437
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8. In-N-Out Burger

8. In-N-Out Burger

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  • Average sales per location: $3.1 million
  • Store count: 398
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7. Panera Bread

7. Panera Bread

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  • Average sales per location: $3.3 million
  • Store count: 2,169
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6. Culver’s

6. Culver’s

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  • Average sales per location: $3.5 million
  • Store count: 944
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5. Shake Shack

5. Shake Shack

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  • Average sales per location: $3.9 million
  • Store count: 334
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4. Whataburger

4. Whataburger

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  • Average sales per location: $4 million
  • Store count: 997
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3. McDonald’s

3. McDonald’s

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  • Average sales per location: $4 million
  • Store count: 13,457
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2. Raising Cane’s

2. Raising Cane’s

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  • Average sales per location: $5.7 million
  • Store count: 727
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1. Chick-fil-A

1. Chick-fil-A

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  • Average sales per location: $7.5 million
  • Store count: 2,552
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