The largest limited-service franchisees by region

For an emerging restaurant chain, attracting the attention of a large multiconcept franchisee can validate the brand. But be wary about losing control of your concept, says Darrell Johnson, CEO of Frandata, a franchise business research and consulting firm: “A powerful franchisee has an outsized voice, and will have for years to come.”

Not that he’s down on large franchisees, who can enable fast growth and even help refine operating systems. He notes that large regional operators, for instance, are experts in their markets, and they have local management and distribution to support stores. Here, we look at the five largest limited-service restaurant franchisees in each region, according to Frandata (unit counts as of year-end 2016).

1. Carrols Group, Syracuse, N.Y.

Total units owned in region: 190

Brand: Burger King

2. Target Corporation, Minneapolis

Total units owned in region: 179

Brand: Pizza Hut

3. Northeast Foods LLC, Boston

Total units owned in region: 100

Brand: Burger King

4. Briad Restaurant Group LLC, Livingston, N.J.

Total units owned in region: 91

Brand: Wendy’s

5. HMS Host Inc., Bethesda, Md.

Total units owned in region: 91

Brands: 23 Burger King, 16 Roy Rogers, 11 Nathan’s Famous, 11 Sbarro, 9 Popeyes, 8 Pizza Hut, 7 Quiznos, 5 Famous Famiglia Pizzeria, 1 Moe’s Southwest Grill unit

1. NPC International Inc., Overland Park, Kan.

Total units owned in region: 922

Brands: 786 Pizza Hut, 135 Wendy’s, 1 KFC unit

2. Boddie-Noell Enterprises Inc., Rocky Mount, N.C.

Total units owned in region: 314

Brand: Hardee’s

3. Carrols Group, Syracuse, N.Y.

Total units owned in region: 275

Brand: Burger King

4. Target Corporation, Minneapolis

Total units owned in region: 270

Brand: Pizza Hut

5. Tacala LLC/Boom Foods LLC, Vestavia Hills, Ala.

Total units owned in region: 259

Brands: 193 Taco Bell, 66 Sonic Drive-In units

1. Rottinghaus Company Inc., La Crosse, Wis.

Total units owned in region: 315

Brand: Subway

2. NPC International Inc., Overland Park, Kan.

Total units owned in region: 301

Brands: 267 Pizza Hut, 34 Wendy’s units

3. Tri City Foods, Downers Grove, Ill.

Total units owned in region: 260

Brand: Burger King

4. Target Corporation, Minneapolis

Total units owned in region: 240

Brand: Pizza Hut

5. Carrols Group, Syracuse, N.Y.

Total units owned in region: 239

Brand: Burger King

1. Muy Brands LLC, San Antonio

Total units owned in region: 330

Brands: 185 Pizza Hut, 103 Wendy’s, 42 Long John Silver’s units

2. Sun Holdings LLC, Dallas

Total units owned in region: 233

Brands: 196 Burger King, 37 Cicis units

3. Mason-Harrison-Ratliff Enterprises LLC, Oklahoma City

Total units owned in region: 182

Brand: Sonic Drive-In

4. Target Corporation, Minneapolis

Total units owned in region: 152

Brand: Pizza Hut

5. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Oklahoma City

Total units owned in region: 124

Brands: 85 Subway, 30 Chester’s, 9 Godfather’s Pizza units

1. Harman Management Corporation, Los Altos, Calif.

Total units owned in region: 389

Brands: 253 KFC, 115 A&W, 18 Long John Silver’s, 3 Pizza Hut units

2. Southern California Pizza, Corona, Calif.

Total units owned in region: 300

Brand: Pizza Hut

3. Target Corporation, Minneapolis

Total units owned in region: 286

Brand: Pizza Hut

4. NPC International Inc., Overland Park, Kan.

Total units owned in region: 183

Brands: 130 Pizza Hut, 53 Wendy’s units

5. Pac Partners Inc., San Ramon, Calif.

Total units owned in region: 161

Brand: Pizza Hut