New data this month shows that franchising continues to outperform the broader U.S. economy: the franchise sector has grown +7.3% over the last five years - double the pace of overall economic growth at 3.6%.
This momentum is being driven by strong multi-unit and multi-brand expansion across restaurants, home services, and retail, reflecting a shift toward consolidation and scale rather than single-unit ownership.
Franchisors increasingly prefer experienced multi-unit operators over single-unit owners — a trend that suggests the next wave of growth will be anchored in platforms with deeper resources and more operational sophistication.
More on that here.
In this week's edition, we’re covering three notable expansion moves from the past week: Zaxby’s 10-store deal in Ohio, Oakberry’s 100-unit rollout in Texas, and Potbelly’s multi-unit growth in Houston. Let's dive in!
Zaxby's has inked a 10-store development deal to bring its signature chicken-finger concept into Ohio, with new locations planned for Dayton and Columbus.
The agreement is led by an experienced operator with a strong multi-unit track record — a sign the brand expects strong demand in the Midwest.
For franchisees, this move presents a timely entry opportunity into a growing market for casual dining QSR brands.
Oakberry, the Brazilian açaí and smoothie chain, announced a major multi-unit agreement with the Rand Group to open around 100 locations across Texas over the next several years.
The agreement marks one of the brand’s largest U.S. expansion pushes and targets major metro areas including Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
This expansion reflects rising demand for health-focused fast-casual concepts in growth states.
The Biddy Restaurant Group has opened the first of a planned 10 Potbelly units in the Houston area, kicking off an expansion effort across the region.
The new location will begin serving customers soon, with more openings on the horizon under the same development agreement — an encouraging sign for investors following Potbelly’s rebound after pandemic-era challenges.
Fast-casual restaurant franchise known for its chicken fingers, wings, and sandwiches, offering a menu of Southern-inspired comfort food.
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Oakberry Store is a health-focused fast-casual franchise offering organic açaí bowls and smoothies, serving on-the-go customers seeking nutritious options, and known for customizable bowls, streamlined small-format stores, and a rapidly expanding global footprint in more than thirty-five countries.
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Potbelly Sandwich Shop is a fast-casual restaurant franchise known for its toasted sandwiches, soups, and salads. It emphasizes a warm, neighborhood atmosphere and uses high-quality ingredients to deliver comfort food.
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Montauk Lobster House is a seafood-restaurant franchise offering lobster rolls, seafood platters, and coastal-inspired fare, serving guests who enjoy New England–style seafood, and known for premium lobster, relaxed beach-town ambiance, and menus built around fresh ingredients and classic shore favorites.
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PottyPro is a pet-services franchise offering pooper-scooper services, waste-removal subscriptions and pet-waste-management solutions, serving homeowners, pet-owners and property managers, and known for low-cost entry, recurring revenue model and strong support.
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Legacy Claims Services is a claims adjusting and disaster response franchise offering property & casualty claims management, serving insurance companies and homeowners, and known for fast mobilization, trained adjusters, and national reach.
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KEEP READING
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