
How Two Franchisees Did Well in 2020 – Despite Covid
We asked a wide range of multi-unit franchisees about the biggest impacts Covid-19 has had on their business, how they’ve responded, and which changes they think will be permanent.
Arby's is a company in Burnaze's franchise knowledge graph, mentioned since 2015. 374 stories link here, each summarized from the original publisher. * AES Restaurant Group has become the world's largest Arby's franchisee after acquiring 23 restaurants in Knoxville, Tennessee, bringing its total to 362 restaurants across 20 states [[2026-10-27 AES Restaurant Group Becomes World's Largest Arby's Franchisee (35c793)]]. * Arby's is introducing new menu items for winter, including skillets, cheesesteaks, and warm bowls, designed to be comforting and warming for the colder weather [[2026-10-19 Menus get ready for chillier days ahead (1f82cc)]]. * KBP Brands' Arby's franchise business, KBP Inspired, has been named Operator of the Year for the entire Arby's system, and has raised over $750,000 for local grants since 2022 through its partnership with the Arby's Foundation [[2026-09-30 KBP Brands Earns Arby’s Operator of the Year Award (ecf832)]]. * Red Door Brands, a portfolio company operating Arby's, McAlister's Deli, and Little Caesars, is setting the stage for a comeback after a difficult year with new COO and majority partner Kayla Edidin [[2026-09-04 After Difficult Year, Red Door Brands Sets Stage for Comeback (30ef70)]]. * Arby's brought back its Steak Nuggets for a limited time, accompanied by a new Horsey Ranch dipping sauce, and introduced new bowls featuring steak and potatoes or mac and cheese [[2026-08-13 Arby’s Steak Nuggets return to the menu, paired with potatoes in a new bowl (e0404e)]]. * Arby's added the Buffalo Ranch Chicken Sandwich to its Meat & 3 value box lineup for $7.99, which includes a choice of entrée, small Curly Fries, 2-Piece Mozzarella Sticks, Peach Cobbler Roll, and a small drink [[2026-08-03 Arby’s Adds Buffalo Ranch Chicken Sandwich to Meat & 3 Value Box Lineup (1a734d)]]. * Laddi Singh, a veteran multi-brand franchisee with over 50 Popeyes, Burger King, and Arby's restaurants, is investing in Retro Fitness to expand in the New York area [[2026-08-19 Retro Fitness Taps Restaurant Franchise Vet to Drive New York Expansion (0685d0)]]. * Inspire Brands, the parent company of Arby's, debuted its first co-branded Buffalo Wild Wings Go and Jimmy John’s restaurant in Palmetto, Florida [[2026-08-13 Inspire Brands debuts first Buffalo Wild Wings Go, Jimmy John’s co-branded restaurant (bef088)]]. Filed under Restaurants / Sandwich & sub.

We asked a wide range of multi-unit franchisees about the biggest impacts Covid-19 has had on their business, how they’ve responded, and which changes they think will be permanent.
Trend alerts to assist you with your international expansion plans

Lisa Oak, Chief Development Officer of BIGGBY COFFEE, discusses the brand's goal of helping people build a life they love and changing workplace culture in America.

Yonas Hagos, a 38-year-old multi-brand operator, shares his journey from a refugee camp in Sudan to becoming a successful franchisee, highlighting the importance of perseverance.

Understanding the franchisee journey is crucial for franchise brands to attract and retain business owners who seek scalability and multi-unit growth.

Flynn Restaurant Group buys 1,150 Pizza Hut and Wendy's locations for $801 million.

David Giesen opens 17th franchise, a Slim Chickens in Ohio.
Trend alerts to assist you with your international expansion plans
Inspire Brands, Inc. has completed its $11.3 billion acquisition of Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc.

BIGGBY COFFEE was founded in 1995 in East Lansing, Michigan, with a unique approach to coffee and customer service.

Wendy’s bid for NPC's units will complicate the sale process, especially now that the court has approved the stalking-horse bid.
Chicken Salad Chick appoints new directors of marketing and supply chain, as the brand continues to grow with over 175 locations in 17 states.

The acquisition of any brand with a footprint in the same ballpark as Dunkin’, which has nearly 13,000 locations worldwide, is going to come with a high price tag.

The article discussed the importance of leading by example and maintaining high standards as a leader in the restaurant industry.

Slim Chickens is gearing up for its October 19 opening in Streetsboro, Ohio, with franchisee David Giesen leading the effort.
Trend alerts to assist you with your international expansion plans

Quality Restaurant Group acquires 62 Sonic Drive-In locations in Florida and Alabama, expanding its restaurant portfolio by 75 percent in the last year.
Blaze Pizza is welcoming new additions to its executive team, including Chief Marketing Officer Vince Szwajkowski and Chief Restaurant Officer Rick Gestring.

QSR Magazine's 2020 Drive-Thru Study reports on customer satisfaction, technologies, and device usage during the pandemic.
One of the largest Arby's franchisees is investing in Rusty Taco, citing the brand's potential for growth.

Top franchise lawyers offer tips on franchise growth, emphasizing the importance of a clear vision, unique product, and effective strategies.
My Friend’s Place Deli announces a strategic partnership with Goliath Consulting Group to grow the brand throughout metro-Atlanta and the Southeast.

A franchise attorney reflects on their experience and approach to working with creative people and innovative businesses.

Anoop and Bikram Kang are successful Arby's operators who have opened and acquired three of the sandwich brand's locations just within the past 18 months.