McDonald's generated a total revenue of ***** billion U.S. dollars in 2024. In that year, when looking at McDonald’s revenue by region, the country that generated the highest portion of revenue was the United States - accounting for ***** billion U.S. dollars. However, internationally operated markets including, but not exclusive to, Australia, France, Canada, and the UK, contributed the largest sum to the McDonald's total revenue in 2024. How did McDonald’s start? McDonald’s was originally founded in 1940 in San Bernardino, California, United States by Richard, and Maurice McDonald. It was eventually turned into a franchise operation and was bought from the McDonald’s brothers in 1955 by businessman Ray Kroc. In 2024, there were over ** thousand conventionally franchised McDonald's restaurants worldwide, which constituted the majority of its ****** establishments across the globe. The burger behemoth earned most of its revenue from McDonald’s franchised restaurants and received ***** billion U.S. dollars through this mode of operation in 2024. Is McDonald’s the largest quick service chain? McDonald’s had the highest brand value of any quick service restaurant company by a large margin in 2024. Not only that, but it also ranked in the top 100 biggest companies in the world in 2024. The biggest player in the market that year was ********** with a total market capitalization amounting to over *** trillion U.S. dollars.

As of March 2025, New South Wales was home to the highest number of McDonald's locations in Australia, with over *** stores. In comparison, there were only ** McDonald's restaurants in Tasmania that same year. In total, over ***** McDonald's stores were in operation nationwide in 2025. Australia: one of McDonald’s leading international markets Famous for its Big Mac, American quick service restaurant (QSR) chain McDonald’s is by far the most valuable fast food brand worldwide, with an estimated brand value of almost *** billion U.S. dollars. The Australian McDonald’s franchise is one of the largest contributors to McDonald’s total revenue among the company’s internationally operated markets. In 2023, McDonald’s Australia Holdings Pty Ltd generated an annual revenue of around *** million U.S. dollars. Battle of the burger chains McDonald’s and Hungry Jack’s are the most prevalent burger franchises in Australia, with McDonald’s recording the highest brand score index value across Australia’s QSRs in 2024. In terms of locations, McDonald’s boasted the highest number of locations of all burger franchises across Australia in 2025 and had more than double the number of stores compared to Hungry Jack’s. Nonetheless, by a small margin, Australian consumers voted Hungry Jack’s as being better value for money than McDonald’s. Furthermore, the Big Jack was rated higher across all categories than the Big Mac regarding taste, quality of ingredients, and value for money. Popular Australian burger chain Grill’d also keeps its foot in the door of Australia’s burger market due to its extensive variety of burger options and highly-rated dine-in experience. With Wendy’s and Mr. Charlie’s having entered Australia’s fast food market, the battle of the country’s burger chains may become even more intense.

In January 2025, it was estimated that a Big Mac burger in Argentina would cost an average of 6.95 U.S. dollars. Overall, Argentina ranked with the highest price for a Big Mac in selected Latin American countries. The Big Mac Index in Argentina The Big Mac Index is an indicator that measures an economy's purchasing power. As it is mainly a standardized product, elaborated similarly across many markets, the evolution of its cost can provide insights into variations of real consumption prices in a given country. For instance, the price for a Big Mac in Argentina decreased by almost half from 2018 to 2019. This reflects Argentina's peso devaluation in comparison to the U.S. dollar and other foreign currencies in that period, caused by high inflation rates in the country, among other macroeconomic reasons. McDonald's in Latin America Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. is McDonald's franchisee in Latin America. The company's name was inspired by McDonald's famous logo, as 'Arcos Dorados' means 'Golden Arches' in Spanish. It manages the brand's operations in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. Arcos Dorados’ revenue averages three billion U.S. dollars per year, making it McDonald's largest franchisee in the world. The company is also publicly listed in the New York Stock Exchange. Based on its market capitalization value, Arcos Dorados' net worth was estimated at around 1.64 billion U.S. dollars in 2023.

As of 2025, international fast food giants Subway and McDonald's were the quick service restaurant (QSR) brands with the highest number of locations across Australia, with over ***** Subway locations and over ***** McDonald's locations recorded. While the number of Nando's restaurants has been growing in some countries, such as England, where the brand is highly popular, the number of locations across Australia has flatlined over the past few years. Guzman y Gomez, on the other hand, witnessed a rise in store openings in Australia due to a growing appetite for Mexican food across the country. Will Wendy’s take Australia’s QSR market by storm? Australia’s quick service restaurants (QSRs) are popular among consumers due to their convenient and affordable meal offerings served at a rapid pace. In 2023, the country’s fast food and takeaway food services revenue reached over ** billion Australian dollars, marking the highest revenue recorded in the past decade. Large international fast food brands, such as McDonald’s and KFC, dominate Australia’s QSR landscape. Nonetheless, local brands, including Red Rooster, Pie Face, and Guzman y Gomez, also draw in many customers. With American fast food outlet Wendy’s opening its first store in the Australian marketplace in 2025, the country’s QSR market could become even more competitive, with the company set to open around 200 stores. In the coming years, taste, affordability, speed of service, variety of food, and collaboration with food delivery platforms will be pivotal to the success of QSRs across the country. Are Australian consumers’ appetite for fast food decreasing? While fast food consumption remains high across Australia, many consumers are becoming more health-conscious and, as a result, are demanding more ‘healthy’ but convenient meals from fast food outlets. Therefore, QSRs providing healthier alternatives and diverse menus catering to the Australian population’s various dietary requirements, including plant-based, gluten-free, and low-fat, may find more success.

According to a survey of restaurant brands in the United Kingdom in the first quarter of 2025, Greggs had the highest rating among the British public, with 70 percent having a positive opinion of the brand. J D Wetherspoon, McDonald's, Burger King, and Domino's were also rated among the top five brands. Number of Greggs shops in the UK Along with ranking as one of the most popular restaurant brands in the UK, Greggs is also one of the most prolific. The company had over 2,500 outlets operating across the country in 2024, a figure which showed an increase of around seven percent compared to the previous year. Since 2006, the number of Greggs shops in the UK nearly doubled. How big is the restaurant industry in the UK? The United Kingdom’s restaurant industry is exceptionally diverse, comprising fast food companies, casual dining brands, and Michelin star restaurants. In 2023, the market size of the restaurant industry in the UK was estimated at 18.7 billion British pounds.

The quick-service restaurant market in India was estimated at about ** billion U.S. dollars in 2025. It was forecasted to reach ** billion dollars in 2030. Unorganized versus organized QSR sector Roadside eateries, Dhabas, and food stalls, the traditional fast food formats formed a major part of the unorganized sector. The organized fast-food sector in India was dominated by global food chains like Dominos, McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut. These leading chain restaurants successfully catered to the country's population and by adding customized dishes to their standard menus. Impact of COVID-19 on QSRs The food service industry was tremendously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns. The pandemic created a massive demand for online food delivery services. Swiggy and Zomato emerged as the leading food delivery services in the country and introduced new features such as grocery delivery, pay later services and running errands to stay ahead of their competitors.