History of Fast Food Chains

A&W

Jun 20, 1919

Founder(s): Roy W. Allen and Frank Wright
Year Franchising Started: 1925
Current No. of Locations: 1,100+
Headquarters: Lexington, Kentucky, USA

White Castle

Sep 13, 1921

Founder(s): Billy Ingram and Walter Anderson
Year Franchising Started: N/A – all locations are company owned
Current No. of Locations: about 420
Headquarters: Columbus, Ohio, USA

KFC

Mar 20, 1930

Founder(s): Harland Sanders
Year Franchising Started: September 24, 1952
Current No. of Locations: over 20,925
Headquarters: Louisville, Kentucky

McDonald's

May 15, 1940

Founder(s): Richard and Maurice McDonald
Year Franchising Started: 1955
Current No. of Locations: over 37,241
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Dairy Queen

Jun 22, 1940

Founder(s): John Fremont McCullough
Year Franchising Started: 1940
Current No. of Locations: over 6,800
Headquarters: Edina, Minnesota, USA

In-N-Out Burger

Oct 22, 1948

Founder(s): Harry and Esther Snyder
Year Franchising Started: N/A – all locations are company-owned
Current No. of Locations: over 342
Headquarters: Irvine, California

Jack In The Box

Feb 21, 1951

Founder(s): Robert Oscar Peterson
Year Franchising Started: early 1970s
Current No. of Locations: 2,200
Headquarters: San Diego, California, USA

Sonic

Jun 18, 1953

Founder(s): Troy Smith
Year Franchising Started: 1956
Current No. of Locations: over 3,606
Headquarters: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

Burger King

Nov 9, 1953

Founder(s): Keith J. Kramer and Matthew Burns
Year Franchising Started: 1953
Current No. of Locations: over 15,200
Headquarters: Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA