In the News

Sales at America’s biggest restaurant franchisee plunged 60% after COVID-19 hit, but the company survived. Why? “The strength of the team,” says owner Greg Flynn.

As founder, chairman, and CEO of Flynn Restaurant Group (FRG), Greg Flynn is the nation’s largest restaurant franchisee on a quest to be the industry’s premier operator. “It means being able to walk into a franchise convention and have people wonder, ‘How do they do it so well, at such scale?’” says Flynn.

He bought his first Applebee’s 20 years ago, and since then has redefined what’s possible in the franchise industry. His philosophy: Be different, then go big.

With the purchase of 368 Arby’s restaurants, the entire portfolio of seller U.S. Beef Corp., Flynn reaches $2.3 billion in annual sales. That makes the company the first privately held franchise company to crest the $2 billion mark.

Over a 17-year career, Greg Flynn built the nation’s largest franchisee empire: Flynn Restaurant Group LP, a business that spans the country with three different brands — Applebee’s, Panera Bread and Taco Bell. With so many restaurant chains selling locations, franchisees have become increasingly powerful in the business of selling food to customers. And Flynn […]