McDonald’s Closes Gap on Biggest American Rival as Things Keep Getting Worse for the Competition
McDonald’s and Subway are in a changing race for fast-food presence in the U.S. Earlier this year, subway led with more than 19,000 restaurants nationwide, while McDonald’s had about 14,000. However, Subway recently closed an additional 729 locations, dropping its U.S. count to just under 19,000 and narrowing the gap. The article notes this is part of a long-term decline for Subway, with 10 straight years of store closures reducing it from over 27,000 U.S. locations to a much smaller footprint today.
Subway attributes the contraction to a strategy focused on placing restaurants in better locations and improving franchisees’ prospects, even as it grows internationally by adding about 1,000 locations worldwide.It also mentions that Subway’s ownership and leadership have changed recently, including acquisition by Roark Capital and a new CEO named in 2025. The piece further compares broader competitive pressures from a tightening economy, pointing out that both Subway and McDonald’s have added discounted “value” menu options.
it contrasts both chains with Starbucks, saying Starbucks has more locations than McDonald’s but has also been forced to shutter stores, leaving it at around 18,000 U.S. locations after planned closures.
It’s not exactly a secret that McDonald’s is the most ubiquitous fast food franchise in the world, with thousands of locations across the globe.
But in America? McDonald’s is actually in a distinct second place, behind the largest fast food franchise in the U.S., Subway.
But that gap is closing — and rapidly — according to the New York Post.
Going into the year, Subway boasted over 19,000 restaurants in the U.S., eclipsing McDonald’s roughly 14,000 U.S. locations.
But now Subway’s figure is just under that 19,000 threshold, as it has shuttered another 729 locations recently.
Notably, for Subway, this latest reduction caps off a decade of decline for the once-venerable sandwich chain.
In fact, 10 straight years of shuttering locations has taken Subway from having over 27,000 locations in the U.S., to the considerably smaller footprint today.
That’s over 9,000 locations in about 11 years. In another 11 years, McDonald’s may very well conquer the American fast food scene.
The Daily Mail noted that the company has responded to questions about its downsizing, though Subway insists that this is all part of the plan.
The company told the British outlet in a statement, “In the US, Subway is focused on ensuring restaurants are in the right locations, with the real estate, visibility and operations that set franchisees up to succeed long-term.”
The Daily Mail further reported, “It added that the strategy is already delivering results, with internal evaluation scores and Google reviews climbing to their highest levels in two years.”
The Daily Mail also noted that Subway is making headway in international locations, adding 1,000 locations across the globe while their U.S. chains struggle.
Subway went through some significant changes in 2024, after it was acquired by private equity firm Roark Capital for about $9.6 billion, per the New York Post.
Roark Capital then picked Jonathan Fitzpatrick, an industry veteran, to be the new Subway CEO in July 2025.
Notably, neither McDonald’s nor Subway have been immune to a tightening economy, as both restaurants have adopted a similar strategy to lure back more frugal customers.
Both franchises have recently introduced variations on a “value” menu, where you can usually get smaller portions of their classic items at a discounted price.
The biggest competitor to both McDonald’s and Subway occupies a slightly different space — but is no more immune to people tightening purse strings.
Starbucks, the popular coffee chain, actually has more locations than McDonald’s, but has also been forced to close stores.
Company CEO Brian Niccol put out a “message” in September 2025 confirming that the coffee chain would have to shutter locations, bringing the chain’s total U.S. footprint to about 18,000 locations.
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