Starbucks, just a few years ago a flailing company closing hundreds of locations, has become the No. 3 restaurant chain in the nation, surpassing Wendy’s and Burger King, according to Technomic’s recently released 2011 Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report.
For years the top three chains in the U.S. were burger-and-fry heavyweights McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s. Now Starbucks is surpassed only by McDonald’s and No. 2 Subway.
According to the report, Technomic estimates that Starbucks posted about $9.07 billion in U.S. sales, up 8.7% from the prior year, giving the coffee giant 57.2% share in the coffee and other beverage category.