It’s no surprise that leading fast-food chains are building their menus around burgers, chicken and other beef products. Of course, beverage-focused chains and one pizza chain are exceptions, but most QSR 50 2025: 50 Fast Food Chains by Sales have menus based on these staples.
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McDonald’s: U.S. sales of $53.5 billion (ranked No. 1)
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Starbucks: US$30.4 billion (ranked second)
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Chick-fil-A: US$22.7 billion (ranked 3rd)
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Taco Bell: US$16.2 billion (ranked 4th)
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Wendy’s: US$12.6 billion (ranked 5th)
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Duncan: US$12.5 billion (ranked 6th)
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Chipotle Mexican BBQ: US$11.1 billion (ranked 7th)
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burger king: US$10.98 billion (ranked 8th)
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subway: US$9.65 billion (ranked 9th)
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dominoes: US$9.5 billion (ranked 10th)
Note that there are no seafood chains on the list. Overall, seafood dining declined across all restaurant categories.
“This has not been a good year for the seafood space. Even excluding Red Lobster, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2024 and saw sales drop 20.2%, the other 21 seafood chains in the Top 500 had revenue of $63 million, or about 1.6%, compared with 2023, according to Technomic. That’s down 1.6% compared to the overall industry growth of 3%,” Restaurant News reported.
There was a time when Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips introduced British fish and chips to all of America. The brand has declined since its heyday, with only three standalone restaurants remaining, but its new ownership already has plans.
According to QSR magazine, the brand was acquired by Nathan’s Famous in 2006. It’s trying to bring it back to a new model of selling food through ghost kitchens.
“Arthur Treacher’s, founded in 1969, offers hand-baked fish, chicken and French fries. The menu revamped by Nathan’s Famous will highlight the brand’s traditional menu items while also featuring upgraded proteins, more modern structures and a focus on shrimp,” the company shared in a press release.
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According to searches on DoorDash, ghost kitchen brands still exist, and there are a few places offering the service.
Additionally, Pat Franchise Systems, which operates the three remaining Arthur Treacher Fish & Chips locations in Ohio, licensed the name from Nathan’s Famous.
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Founded 1969 in Columbus, OhioArthur Treacher’s grew rapidly as a popular British fish and chip fast food chain in the 1970s. At its peak in 1979, the chain had approx. 826 restaurants nationwideAccording to Money Digest.
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In the following decades, Chain store footprint shrinks dramatically As changing consumer tastes and supply challenges impact its business. Mashed added that by the 2010s, there were only a few restaurants left, and there were reports that there were only a few restaurants left before the recent resurgence.
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A chain saw is a violent contractions According to Money Digest, in the decades after the 1970s due to rising costs, changes in ownership and shifting consumer tastes.
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As of 2025 have Only three separate Arthur Treacher locations remain In the United States, all Northeast Ohio: Cuyahoga Falls, Garfield Heights and Cleveland Heightsa version of the franchise that the brand shared on its website.
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Arthur Treacher fell victim to challenges beyond his control.
“Yet just a few years into its meteoric rise, Arthur Treacher’s became mired in overseas politics. A territorial dispute over fishing rights between Iceland and the United Kingdom caused the cost of cod to skyrocket, which greatly affected the price of the chain’s signature dish,” Maheed reports.
This marked the beginning of the chain’s demise.
“As Arthur Treacher’s complicated history reveals, this moment marked the beginning of its long decline. Like many other disappearing seafood chains across the country (Kona Grill and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. among them), the restaurant chain could not withstand rising costs and changing diners’ habits,” the food site added.
Arthur Treacher’s response to rising cod prices has also damaged its brand.
QSR Magazine reported, “In a decisive and now arguably infamous move, the company replaced the brand’s cod fillets with pollock. The decision saved money but, according to some, damaged Arthur Treacher’s core assets and turned away loyal customers.”
Arthur Treacher owner Ben Vittoria closed one of his stores in June 2021.
“I didn’t close because business was bad,” Victoria told Cleveland Live. “What COVID-19 can’t do and what business mismanagement can’t do, the recent labor crunch can do. It’s getting harder and harder to run our restaurants.”
New owner Nathan’s Famous has high hopes for a ghost kitchen revival.
“We are pleased to offer operators across the country the opportunity to add Arthur Treacher to their product portfolio,” Senior Vice President James Walker shared in the release. “Nathan’s Famous and Arthur Treacher’s have a long-standing relationship and we have worked hard to retain the brand’s traditional menu items.”
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This article was originally published by TheStreet on December 22, 2025, and first appeared in the Restaurant section. Click here to add TheStreet as your preferred source.