---
title: "QSR Magazine: Millennials’ Next Frontier: Franchising"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/d41d0060-6f91-4fc1-ab66-e225386b14d5
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-millennials-next-frontier-franchising-9340
category: "QSR"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "QSR"
published: 2017-01-16T18:13:02.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T04:12:22.839Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/c0f43dc6b0f5979329031c4b3fd345491979.jpg
---

# QSR Magazine: Millennials’ Next Frontier: Franchising

**TL;DR:** Millennials are increasingly drawn to franchising, with many investing in fast-casual brands like Chipotle and Panera Bread. QSR Magazine explores this trend and its implications for the industry, featuring insights from millennials like Andrew Gruel and Paul Tran.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2017-01-16. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-millennials-next-frontier-franchising-9340).*

## Story

The generation which so many have bemoaned for years -- with accusations of laziness and entitlement -- is surprising everyone (but themselves) as more and more millennials are drawn to the franchise model. According to Restaurant Marketing Labs, millennials spend more money in restaurants that any previous generation. Growing up during the recession and the subsequent rise of trendy, more affordable fast-casual brands like Chipotle and Panera Bread, it actually makes perfect sense that millennials would be interested in the industry.

QSR Magazine tackles what sets millennials apart, how they’re taking franchising by storm and shaking up a previously considered “of the past” industry.

“Restaurants are traditionally viewed as risky, but not to [millennials]. They’ve gone through risky with tech,” said Andrew Gruel, chef and found of Slapfish, on how many of his peers made money in tech and are now looking for smart ways to invest. “They see franchise agreements as a built-in insurance policy. They’ve got proven data, unit economics, operations manuals, legal protections … and that’s built-in safety.”

QSR also spoke with 34-year-old Paul Tran, COO of Halal or Nothing, the Southern California franchisee of The Halal Guys, about why millennials are what franchising needs. ““[Millennial franchisees] are doing this because we’re fanatical about a brand, not just to get a paycheck,” Tran told QSR. “We want to do something meaningful and share it.”

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- QSR Magazine (publication)
- fast casual (topic)
- franchise investment (topic)
- Chipotle (company)
- Panera Bread (company)
- The Halal Guys (company)
- millennials in franchising (topic)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-millennials-next-frontier-franchising-9340). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/d41d0060-6f91-4fc1-ab66-e225386b14d5).