Once known only as a popular street food from Turkey, doner kebab has now become one of the main stars of the gastronomy scene in major European cities. It is no longer just a kind of fast food, but also a cultural symbol and an economic force. Especially in Germany, doner has become a daily choice for millions of people, and the scale of the industry now surpasses even the traditional fast food giants.
This success reflects not only taste, but also entrepreneurship, adaptability and a strong sense of quality.

Outpacing the Fast Food Giants

Today, the doner market in Germany is estimated to have a turnover of around 7 billion euros. With this figure, doner clearly outperforms McDonalds, Burger King and Nordsee, whose combined annual revenue is about 6 billion euros.
This means that almost 18,500 independent doner shops across Germany have managed to surpass global giants such as McDonalds and Burger King, despite their strong infrastructure, established marketing strategies, large financial resources and decades of market dominance.

The doner sector employs around 50,000 people working in shops as sales staff and another 5,000 employees in large production facilities that produce the lamb skewers. As a result, Germans consume about 550 tons of doner every day, and those who open a doner shop today generate between 15,000 and 40,000 euros per month in turnover.

A large shop located in a busy city center can easily sell 200 to 300 portions per day, generating daily revenues of 40,000 to 60,000 euros. Although prices have increased in recent years for various reasons, doner continues to find its way into German kitchens through frozen doner products, maintaining its strong appeal to German consumers.

Tombik Doner at the Top: Turkish Flavor Named the Worlds Best Sandwich

After establishing a permanent place on the streets of European cities for many years, doner kebab is now taking its place on global gastronomy platforms. The latest proof of this rise comes from the world renowned TasteAtlas, which publishes annual rankings of the best global dishes. In 2025, doner kebab, this time represented by Tombik Doner, is expected to reach the top of the global rankings.

The 2025 list of The Worlds Best Sandwiches has once again been a source of pride for Turkey. Among 279 sandwich varieties, Tombik Doner took the first place. Also known as Gobit Doner, this variety, famous for its soft and fluffy bread, has quickly become a favorite among thousands of people around the world. Of course, this success also owes much to the perfect harmony of classic accompaniments such as tomatoes, onions, greens and peppers.