---
title: "QSR's 7 Franchisors to Watch for 2026"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/ba8680fd-37ac-4919-9b03-e5ba7608ad04
source: "QSR Magazine"
original_url: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/story/qsrs-7-franchisors-to-watch-for-2026/
author: "Ben Coley"
category: "QSR"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "QSR"
published: 2026-09-01T13:56:19.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T15:31:11.752Z
image: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/curritofood-1.jpg
---

# QSR's 7 Franchisors to Watch for 2026

**TL;DR:** QSR Magazine recognized seven rising franchisors, including Starbird, Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe, and Cicis Pizza, and created a Hall-of-Fame for concepts that have appeared on the Best Franchise Deals list several times. The Hall-of-Fame includes brands like Wingstop, McAlister's, and Freddy's, which have appeared on the list at least four times.

*By Ben Coley, originally published in QSR Magazine on 2026-09-01. [Read the original](https://www.qsrmagazine.com/story/qsrs-7-franchisors-to-watch-for-2026/).*

## Story

For a fourth year, we recognized rising franchisors that are on the outside looking in and created a Hall-of-Fame for concepts that have graced the Best Franchise Deals list several times.

**Starbird**

Number of U.S. franchise units: 2

Number of U.S. total units: 19

Franchise average unit volume: $3,600,000

**Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe**

Number of U.S. franchise units: 60

Number of U.S. total units: 110

Franchise average unit volume: $1,920,000

**Surcheros**

Number of U.S. franchise units: 25

Number of U.S. total units: 47

Franchise average unit volume: $1,600,000

**Currito**

Number of U.S. franchise units: 12

Number of U.S. total units: 21

Franchise average unit volume: $1,402,710

**Angry Chickz**

Number of U.S. total units: 38

Franchise average unit volume: $2,700,000

**Clean Eatz**

Number of U.S. franchise units: 114

Number of U.S. total units: 116

Franchise average unit volume: $1,030,285

**Cicis Pizza**

Number of U.S. franchise units: 248

Number of U.S. total units: 267

Franchise average unit volume: $1,347,962

*These brands will forever be highlighted in future editions. As chains reach four appearances, they will be added to the list.*

Wingstop—2011, 2014, 2017, 2019

McAlister’s—2014, 2015, 2016, 2022

Newk’s Eatery—2012, 2015, 2018, 2019

Tropical Smoothie Cafe—2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2026

Jersey Mike’s—2013, 2019, 2021, 2023

Penn Station—2013, 2016, 2017, 2023

Freddy’s—2012, 2013, 2019, 2023, 2026

Scooter’s Coffee—2019, 2020, 2021, 2023

Chicken Salad Chick—2019, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2026

Smoothie King—2017, 2022, 2024, 2026

## Entities

- QSR (sector)
- QSR Magazine (publication)
- franchise awards (topic)
- Ben Coley (person)
- Scooter's Coffee (company)
- Smoothie King (company)
- Jersey Mike's (company)
- Chicken Salad Chick (company)
- Wingstop (company)
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe (company)
- Penn Station (company)
- Newk's Eatery (company)

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Originally reported by Ben Coley, QSR Magazine (https://www.qsrmagazine.com/story/qsrs-7-franchisors-to-watch-for-2026/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/ba8680fd-37ac-4919-9b03-e5ba7608ad04).