• McDonald’s has 38,000 locations globally.
• Starbucks has 32,000 locations.
• Taco Bell has 7,700 locations.
• Subway has 42,000 locations.
• KFC has 24,000 locations.

Looking at these five options, here’s why my pick is KFC.

KFC has 3,982 locations in America.
16.6% of locations

Comparing that

McDonald’s has 13,700 locations in the US.
36% of total locations.

Taco Bell has 5,600 locations in the US.
72% of total locations.

Subway has 22,000 locations in the US.
52% of total locations.

Starbucks has 15,000 locations in the US.
46% of total locations.

KFC is by the far most diversified US fast food franchise, being the only one with under 30% of locations in America, with just 16%.

The other benefit is where KFC has locations.

7,900 locations in China.
1,100 locations in Japan.
914 locations in South Africa.
718 locations in Malaysia.
717 locations in Thailand.

Comparing that, McDonald’s has 2,400 locations in China, which has fallen below the companies initial goal of 10,000 by 2025, which they won’t be close to having.

On top of that, KFC is one of the only chains focusing on the growing African market.

McDonald’s doesn’t have a single location currently in Nigeria.
KFC has 24 and plans to grow to over 100 in the next five years.

Why that’s important.

Nigeria has 206 million people currently.
401 million people is projected by 2050.

The GDP is also currently low at 436 billion dollars, which comes only to about $2,000 per person.

The 2050 GDP is projected at being 6.4 trillion, which will be $16,000 per person.

KFC is making an effort to invest in Africa, which McDonald’s isn’t and why they only have 300 locations in South Africa, which is a third of KFC.

Over 100,000 people voted in that poll and I think they are seriously missing the big opportunity with KFC.

This is the only chain making serious efforts for developing nations and it’ll grow with Asia & Africa, while the others seem focused only on developed nations.