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How Greg Flynn engineered the biggest franchise deal in U.S. history

This week’s episode of the RB podcast “A Deeper Dive” features the founder of the country’s largest operator, coming off its purchase of most of NPC International.

The latest acquisition in Flynn Restaurant Group’s history was its biggest.

This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast features Greg Flynn, the giant franchisee’s founder and CEO, who discusses the company’s recent acquisition of most of NPC International’s restaurants.

Flynn Restaurant Group has grown over the past couple of decades largely through a series of increasingly large acquisitions. But the purchase of NPC was likely the biggest in U.S. franchise history, essentially merging the two largest franchise operators in the U.S.

Flynn bought more than 900 Pizza Hut locations and nearly 200 Wendy’s units. The company already operated restaurants in the Applebee’s, Arby’s, Taco Bell and Panera Bread systems.

The acquisition added more than 1,100 restaurants to Flynn’s already massive system, giving the company more than 2,300 restaurants around the country in six systems

Flynn discusses how his company came to make the deal, why it targeted NPC, and how it can integrate a company so large. He also talks about a host of other issues, including labor concerns and where the industry is headed.

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