Fast food restaurants are staples in the food industry. People flock to them because the food is cheap and as the name suggests, the service is quick and easy.
It’s a business model that works, proven by the many brands that saturate the market. Many have grown exponentially and have even gone global, when they were just small names that once came from good fast food business opportunities.
McDonald’s
Perhaps the most popular fast food chain, McDonald’s, is known for its burgers although the menu has become more diverse since it first opened. It was established in 1948 by brothers Maurice and Richard McDonald in San Diego, California. The brothers were able to serve their customers quickly by cooking burgers ahead of time, wrapping them up, and keeping them warm under a heat lamp.
Starbucks
With over 5,000 branches all over the world, Starbucks is easily one of the top coffee shops in the market. The first branch to ever exist was in Seattle, somewhere along Western Avenue. The minds behind the brand, Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker, and Zev Siegel, only sold roasted coffee beans during its early years. As time passed, the menu expanded to include hot and cold beverages as well as ready-made pastries.
Subway
Among all the top fast food chains in the market, Subway is the only one that specializes in serving submarine sandwiches. The chain was first created after a deal was made between Fred DeLuca and Peter Buck in 1965. Buck, a family friend, agreed to lend DeLuca $1,000 since he needed money for college. DeLuca used the money to open a restaurant that was first called “Pete’s Super Submarines” after its specialty.
Three years later, it was rebranded to its current name, “Subway.” While Subway’s menu still revolves around sub sandwiches, some branches also sell packaged chips and sweets to accompany the savory meal.
KFC
KFC or Kentucky Fried Chicken was established by Harland Sanders, who we know as the Colonel. He opened Sanders’ Cafe, a family-style cafe, in Corbin, Kentucky after quitting school and holding several jobs. Sanders later realized the potential of franchising his business and the first-ever KFC opened its doors to the public in 1952.
Taco Bell
Americans love burgers; some even say it’s part of the culture. But Taco Bell was able to surpass this love and trump over every burger chain except for McDonald’s. It was recently reported to be the fourth top fast food chain in the U.S., with many other global branches holding the brand’s name.
The first Taco Bell was opened in California in 1962. The man behind the brand, Glen Bell, hosted a slew of other Mexican-inspired restaurants before establishing the beloved restaurant. While it mainly offers Mexican dishes, it also offers options unique to the brand, like the Crunchwrap Supreme and the Doritos Locos Tacos.
Many of the fast food chains that we know and love began as something small. It seems that anyone can try their hand at this kind of business. All you need is an opportunity to begin, a business mindset, dedication, and tenacity to prosper.
