It’s been 73 years since the term “fast food” was coined, with Merriam-Webster recognizing it in 1951. On Nov. 16, we celebrate National Fast Food Day. And it all started with the beloved burger.
Walter Anderson began selling hamburgers from an old streetcar body at an intersection in Wichita, Kan. He later teamed up with E.W. Ingram to open the first White Castle in 1921 — the nation’s first fast-food business.
Today, fast food is anything that can be made and served quickly — from pizza to chicken to fish sandwiches to tacos — the choices are endless.
The global fast-food market was valued at $772.04 billion last year and is projected to reach $1,186.44 billion by 2032. McDonald’s tops the list of the largest fast-food chains, with 45,000 locations worldwide, followed closely by Subway with 36,592. Starbucks ranks third, followed by KFC, Burger King and Domino’s. Pizza Hut, Dunkin’, Taco Bell and Wendy’s round out the list.
Think McDonald’s was the first to package toys with its meals? It was actually Burger Chef, which introduced “Fun Meals” in 1973 (McDonald’s followed with its Happy Meals in 1979). Founded in 1954, Burger Chef peaked in the early 1970s before closing its final location in 1996.