Inspire Brands has reached a monumental achievement with the grand opening of its 10,000th international restaurant, Dunkin’, in Lelystad, Netherlands, in collaboration with Jordan Benelux Holding B.V. This event signifies a remarkable milestone for the company’s global expansion efforts.
Celebrating its sixth anniversary recently, Inspire Brands now boasts a staggering presence of over 32,600 locations operating across nearly 60 markets worldwide. Anchored by its six distinguished brands – Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and Sonic – the conglomerate caters to a vast clientele, serving more than 410 million guests with over 4.3 billion visits annually. International establishments now constitute over 30 percent of Inspire’s extensive portfolio.
“The inauguration of our 10,000th international store underscores the resilience of the Inspire business model and the enduring appeal of our brands. It underscores our unwavering commitment to fostering global expansion,” remarked Michael Haley, President & Managing Director International for Inspire Brands. “I extend my gratitude to our dedicated team members, franchisees, and stakeholders whose relentless efforts have propelled us to this significant milestone. I eagerly anticipate further global expansion as each of our brands continues to tap into its immense potential for growth.”
Central to Inspire’s exponential growth trajectory is its multi-brand platform and adaptable shared-services model, designed to leverage the strengths of each brand and drive both domestic and international expansion.
Over the past six years, Inspire’s international division has prioritized bolstering franchisee support, fostering innovation, and ensuring operational excellence to fuel sustained growth. This strategy has yielded an impressive nearly 40 percent year-over-year increase in international net unit growth.
By introducing U.S. brands to new global audiences, penetrating untapped international markets, and onboarding new franchisees, Inspire continues to broaden its global footprint. Bolstered by robust investments in market insights and trend analysis, the company efficiently launches existing brands into new international territories. A recent testament to this strategy is the announcement of Jimmy John’s international expansion through franchisee agreements in Canada and Latin America.
To further enhance performance for existing franchisees, Inspire has implemented a scalable digital platform, introduced over 150 consumer-driven products, revamped branding for Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins, unveiled new store designs for Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Dunkin’, and is developing more adaptable store formats across its brands.
Highlights from 2023 include opening over 900 international restaurants, surpassing 4,000 Dunkin’ international locations, selling over 29 million gallons of Baskin-Robbins ice cream, launching the 200th Arby’s international location, unveiling a new Buffalo Wild Wings international format, and introducing a hot, toasted sandwich menu for Jimmy John’s international markets.
Benefitting from the collective strength of its diverse brand portfolio, international franchisees have the opportunity to expand their portfolios across complementary concepts, dayparts, and product offerings. Recent endeavors include Shahia Foods, a Dunkin’ legacy franchisee, introducing Arby’s in Saudi Arabia and committing to substantial expansion across the broader Gulf Cooperation Council.
“Inspire experienced phenomenal international growth in 2023, and 2024 promises to be equally remarkable,” Haley added. “Our brands resonate strongly with both international consumers and operators, underscoring Inspire’s distinct position in the global restaurant landscape. We eagerly anticipate engaging with new and existing franchisees worldwide to identify the perfect brand fit for their markets.”
