It isn’t stunning that the main fast-food chains construct their menus round burgers, rooster, and different beef-based choices. The drinks-based chains and one pizza chain are, in fact, exceptions, however a lot of the QSR 50 2025: Prime 50 Quick‑Meals Chains, Ranked by Gross sales have a menu primarily based on these staples.
- McDonald’s: $53.5 billion in U.S. gross sales (rank #1)
- Starbucks: $30.4 billion (rank #2)
- Chick‑fil‑A: $22.7 billion (rank #3)
- Taco Bell: $16.2 billion (rank #4)
- Wendy’s: $12.6 billion (rank #5)
- Dunkin’: $12.5 billion (rank #6)
- Chipotle Mexican Grill: $11.1 billion (rank #7)
- Burger King: $10.98 billion (rank #8)
- Subway: $9.65 billion (rank #9)
- Domino’s: $9.50 billion (rank #10)
Discover that there is no seafood chain on the checklist. General, throughout all restaurant classes, seafood eating has been down.
“It was not a good year for the seafood segment. Even if you factor out Red Lobster, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May of 2024 and saw sales decline by 20.2%, the other 21 seafood chains within the Top 500 brought in $63 million, or about 1.6%, less than they did in 2023, according to Technomic. That’s compared to 3% growth for the industry as a whole,” Nation’s Restaurant Information reported.
Solely three standalone Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips places stay.
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Iconic seafood chain has almost gone out of enterprise
There was a time when Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips introduced British-style fish and chips all throughout America. The model has fallen a good distance since its peak with solely three standalone eating places left, however its new possession has plans.
The model was acquired by Nathan’s Well-known in 2006, based on QSR Journal. It has tried to deliver it again below a brand new mannequin promoting its meals through ghost kitchens.
“Arthur Treacher’s, which was founded in 1969, offers hand-dipped fish, chicken, and French fries. The menu, which has been revamped by Nathan’s Famous, will highlight the brand’s traditional menu items while also featuring upgraded proteins, more contemporary builds, and includes a focus on shrimp,” the corporate shared in a press launch.
Extra Eating places
- Taco Bell and KFC work on simplifying their eating places
- Chick-fil-A making main change to 425 eating places nationwide
- Bankrupt beer and pizza restaurant chain closes places
- Restaurant chain famed for impolite waiters closes a number of places
The ghost kitchen model nonetheless exists, and a handful of places provide it, based on a search on DoorDash.
As well as, Pat Franchise Techniques, which operates the three remaining Arthur Treacher Fish & Chips places Ohio, license the title again from Nathan’s Well-known.
A quick historical past of Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips
- Based in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio, Arthur Treacher’s grew quickly as a British‑model fish and chips quick‑meals chain in style within the Seventies. At its peak in 1979 the chain had roughly 826 eating places nationwide, based on Cash Digest.
- Over subsequent many years, the chain’s footprint shrank dramatically as altering shopper tastes and provide challenges hit its enterprise. By the 2010s solely a handful of eating places remained, with stories indicating simply a few places earlier than current revivals, added Mashed.
- The chain noticed a dramatic contraction over many years after the Seventies resulting from rising prices, possession adjustments, and shifting shopper tastes, reported Cash Digest.
- As of 2025 there are solely three stand‑alone Arthur Treacher’s places remaining within the U.S., all in Northeast Ohio: Cuyahoga Falls, Garfield Heights, and Cleveland Heights, the franchised model of the model shared on its web site.
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This is why Arthur Treacher’s failed
Arthur Treacher’s fell sufferer to challenges that had been considerably out of its management.
“Just a few years after its rapid rise, however, Arthur Treacher’s was in trouble due to overseas politics. A territorial dispute over fishing rights between Iceland and the U.K. sent the cost of cod soaring, and this drastically affected the price of the chain’s signature dish,” Mashed reported.
That marked the start of the chain’s demise.
“As Arthur Treacher’s complicated history reveals, this moment marked the beginning of its long decline. Like many other seafood chains that are disappearing across the country (among them Kona Grill and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.), this restaurant chain couldn’t withstand rising costs and shifting diners habits,” the meals web site added.
How Arthur Treacher’s responded to rising cod costs additionally damage its model.
“The company made a fateful — and now arguably infamous — move when it replaced the brand’s cod fillets with pollock. The decision saved money, but, according to some, deteriorated Arthur Treacher’s core equity and turned off loyal guests,” QSR Journal reported.
Arthur Treacher’s lingers on
Ben Vittoria, an Arthur Treacher’s proprietor, closed one in all his shops in June, 2021.
“I did not close because business was bad,” Vittoria shared with Cleveland Scene. “Whatever Covid couldn’t do and whatever corporate mismanagement couldn’t do, the recent labor crunch was able to do. It has become increasingly difficult to operate our restaurants.”
New proprietor Nathan’s Well-known has excessive hopes for its ghost kitchen revival.
“We are thrilled to provide operators across the country with the opportunity to add Arthur Treacher’s to their portfolio,” Senior Vice President James Walker shared in a press release. “Nathan’s Famous and Arthur Treacher’s have a long standing relationship and we have worked diligently to keep the brand’s traditional menu items.”
Associated: Struggling bakery, cafe chain quietly closed dozens of places
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