Burger King, Bojangles’ and Zoe’s Kitchen Face Dramatic Losses as Hurricane Florence Touches Down

Hurricane Florence touched down in North Carolina’s Outer Banks Thursday morning. The Category 4 storm is expected to have devastating effects as it travels north-west through the Carolinas, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky and West Virginia.

Hundreds of businesses are likely to face substantial damages, and franchise brands with large footprints across the South East are facing the greatest potential for losses. According to an article in MarketWatch, Bojangles’, Zoe’s Kitchen, and Carrols Restaurant Group, the largest Burger King franchisee, are among the restaurant brands that may be most affected by the hurricane.

Bojangles’ may be the most exposed restaurant brand, with more than half of its stores located in the Carolinas. 23 percent of Carrols’ Burger King locations are in the hurricane’s path, and 12 percent of Zoe’s Kitchen stores are in North and South Carolina.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Shake Shack, Wingstop and Denny’s are also facing losses.