McDonalds No Longer the Largest Restaurant Chain in the World
McDonalds No Longer the Largest Restaurant Chain in the World: For decades, McDonald’s has been the dominant name in the global fast food industry. However, as of September 2024, a new competitor has taken the top spot. Mixu Bingcheng, a Chinese bubble tea and ice cream chain, has surpassed McDonald’s in terms of total locations worldwide, marking a significant shift in the fast food landscape.
According to Statista via Chowhound, Mixu Bingcheng now operates more than 45,000 restaurants worldwide, surpassing McDonald’s, which has about 41,800 locations. The milestone highlights the incredible growth of the China-based chain, which has expanded rapidly while maintaining an affordable pricing model.
Founded in 1997 by Zhang Hongchao, Mixu Bingcheng started as a small shop selling shaved ice and soft drinks. Over the years, it has grown into a huge franchise that offers bubble tea, ice cream, and other drinks at very low prices. Their mission is simple but effective: to provide quality drinks and desserts at affordable prices.
One of the most important factors behind Mixu Bingcheng’s success is its affordability. The chain sells ice cream for just one yuan (15 cents) and drinks for 2 to 8 yuan (30 cents to $1.20). These extremely low prices have made the brand accessible to millions of consumers, especially in China, where 90% of its stores are located.
McDonalds No Longer the Largest Restaurant Chain in the World
While most of Mixu Bingcheng’s outlets are in China, the brand has also expanded to Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Despite its huge growth, it has yet to establish a presence in the United States. This raises the question of whether Mixu Bingcheng will enter the US market in the future.
Unlike traditional fast food giants, Mixu Bingcheng operates primarily through franchises. More than 99% of its stores are franchises, and its primary source of revenue comes from selling ingredients, equipment, and food packaging to franchisees rather than direct sales. This business model has helped the company expand rapidly while keeping operating costs low.
Although Mixu Bingcheng now has the most branches worldwide, its revenue still lags behind major US-based coffee chains such as Starbucks and Tim Hortons. However, with its aggressive expansion strategy, it could soon become a more significant player in the global beverage industry.
Despite lagging behind in revenue, Mixu Bingcheng’s growth rate has been impressive. According to its prospectus, the company’s net profit rose 42% to 3.49 billion yuan ($479 million) in the first nine months of 2024. Its revenue also rose 21% to 18.7 billion yuan ($2.6 billion) during the same period. If this trend continues, Mixu Bingcheng could soon challenge its larger competitors in terms of revenue as well.
McDonald’s may have lost its title as the largest restaurant chain, but it remains the world leader in fast food. The brand recently launched an Oscar-themed marketing campaign that showcases various celebrities’ breakfast orders after the awards ceremony.
Celebrity Breakfast Orders at McDonald’s
The commercial, set at 9:14 a.m. at a McDonald’s restaurant in Hollywood, features breakfast order receipts from high-profile celebrities, including:
Coleman Domingo: Egg McMuffin meal with fries and coffee, along with strawberry gelatin and ketchup.
Teyana Taylor: Pancakes with egg and sausage, McChicken biscuit with cheese and strawberry butterscotch jelly.
Rosalia: McGriddles (bacon, egg, and cheese) with mango and pineapple shake and mayonnaise packet.
The campaign was designed to put McDonald’s in the public eye and celebrate its role as a leading choice for fast, family-friendly meals.
While McDonald’s is one of the most profitable fast food chains, its most recent financial report showed a slight decline. In February 2025, the company reported fourth-quarter net income of $2.02 billion, compared to $2.04 billion in the same period last year.
McDonald’s faced a significant setback when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linked a deadly E. coli outbreak to its Quarter Pounder burgers. This public health issue negatively impacted the company’s sales and may have contributed to its slight financial decline.
Despite these challenges, McDonald’s remains a dominant force in the fast food industry. The company continues to expand, introducing new menu items and investing in technology-driven innovations such as AI-powered drive-thrus and automated ordering systems. However, it must address food safety concerns and adapt to evolving global competition to maintain its position in the industry.
Mixu Bingcheng’s rise to become the world’s largest restaurant chain marks a shift in the fast food industry. While McDonald’s is a global powerhouse, it has overtaken it as the leader in terms of number of locations. With Mixu Bingcheng’s continued expansion and rapid revenue growth, it could become a major competitor to major US-based brands in the future.
However, McDonald’s remains a financial giant with a huge global presence. Your innovation, adaptability, and ability to market effectively will determine how you move forward in this new era of competition.