Specialty coffee drinks and sandwiches have officially become an American staple alongside burgers and shakes. Technomic's listing of the top 500 restaurant chains in total U.S. sales, announced in today's USA Today, featured Subway at No. 2 and Starbucks at No. 3, passing longtime runners-up Burger King and Wendy's, respectively.
McDonald's remains in the top position.
For decades, it's been a quick-service burger triumvirate – McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's – on the podium. Reasons for the change-up range from brand relevance to an increased demand in healthy food.
Brodeur Partners, a strategic communications company, recently released the results of a survey that assessed the "relevance" of brands to consumers. Starbucks placed second to Coca-Cola.
Subway has experienced success from its "Eat Fresh" mantra and recently passed McDonald's in number of units internationally.
