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Inspire Brands

Inspire Brands LLC is an American fast-food restaurant franchise company. Backed by Roark Capital Group, it owns the Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic Drive-In, Jimmy John's, Dunkin' Donuts, and Baskin-Robbins chains, which have a combined 33,000 locations and US$32.6 billion in system sales. It is one of the largest fast food corporations in the world.[1][2][3]

History

Inspire Brands was formed when Arby's Restaurant Group merged with Buffalo Wild Wings on February 5, 2018. Buffalo Wild Wings also owned the Rusty Taco chain.[4][5] Arby's CEO Paul Brown was selected to continue as Inspire Brands CEO.[4] Brown expected that Inspire would acquire additional chains in different segments. He planned to structure the company similar to Hilton Hotels & Resorts.[6] Co-owner The Wendy's Company's stake was reduced from 18.5% to 12.3% due to the infusion of capital from Roark Capital to fund the purchase.[7] In September 2018, Inspire had the 27-location R Taco reverted to the Rusty Taco name.[8]

On August 16, 2018, The Wendy's Company announced that it sold its 12.3% stake in Inspire Brands back to the company for $450 million, which included a 38% premium over the stake's most recent valuation.[9] On August 28, 2018, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal announced that Inspire was moving its headquarters to Sandy Springs, Georgia in 2019.[10]

Inspire Brands on September 25, 2018, announced that it was buying Oklahoma City-based Sonic Drive-In for $2.3 billion.[11] The acquisition was completed on December 7, 2018.[12]

Inspire Brands announced that it was buying Jimmy John's on September 25, 2019.[2][13] The deal closed on October 18, 2019.[14]

Inspire received Franchise Times’ 2019 Dealmaker of the Year award for its acquisitions of Buffalo Wild Wings and Sonic Drive-In.[15]

Inspire Brands on October 25, 2020, announced that it was buying Dunkin' Brands for $11.3 billion. [16][17] The acquisition was completed on December 15, 2020.[18]

In March 2021, Inspire Brands sent a review of its government lobbying activities to their franchisees and employees where they highlighted their success in keeping the $15 minimum wage out of Democrats' American Rescue Plan, the COVID-19 relief bill President Joe Biden signed earlier that month.[19]

In August 2021, Inspire Brands announced that it would source only cage-free eggs by 2025.[20]

On December 19, 2022, Inspire Brands announced that it had sold Rusty Taco to Gala Capital Partners, owner of Cicis Pizza, Dunn Brothers Coffee, and Mooyah.[21]

In March 2026, Roark Capital Group considered an initial public offering for Inspire Brands, which could raise about $2 billion as early as 2026.[22]

Brands

As of June 2025, the chains that the company owns and/or operates include:

External links

References

  1. Inspire Brands and the Making of a Restaurant Group Unlike Any Other QSR, 1 August 2023^
  2. Kristian Dyer. Arby's owner beefs up portfolio, eating up another fast-food franchise Fox Business, September 25, 2019, retrieved November 15, 2019^
  3. About Us Inspire Brands, retrieved 2025-03-14^
  4. Bret Thorn. Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings new parent Inspire Brands debuts Nation's Restaurant News, February 5, 2018, retrieved February 7, 2018^
  5. Arby's closes deal for Buffalo Wild Wings, makes new company Star Tribune, February 5, 2018, retrieved February 7, 2018^
  6. Danny Klein. Arby's CEO: We're Not Done Buying Brands After BWW QSR magazine, February 5, 2018, retrieved February 7, 2018^
  7. Danny Klein. Wendy's Sells Inspire Brands Stake for $450 Million QSR Magazine, August 2018^
  8. Peter Romeo. Inspire Brands reveals plans for its 3rd brand, now Rusty Taco Restaurant Business, September 5, 2018, retrieved November 28, 2018^
  9. Wendy's sells stake in Arby's owner for $450 million CNBC, 16 August 2018, retrieved 16 August 2018^
  10. Neighbor Newspapers Staff. Inspire Brands bringing 1,100 jobs, $32 million to Sandy Springs Northside Neighbor, Marietta Daily Journal, August 28, 2018, retrieved November 28, 2018^
  11. Bret Thorn. Inspire Brands to buy Sonic Corp. for $2.3B Nation's Restaurant News, 25 September 2018, retrieved 25 September 2018^
  12. Ron Ruggless. Inspire closes on Sonic acquisition Nation's Restaurant News, 7 December 2018, retrieved 8 December 2018^
  13. Amelia Lucas. Arby's owner Inspire Brands buys Jimmy John's CNBC, 25 September 2019, retrieved 26 September 2019^
  14. Ron Ruggless. Inspire completes purchase of Jimmy John's Nation's Restaurant News, 18 October 2019, retrieved 21 October 2019^
  15. Art of the deal panel to highlight FFGC Franchise Times, April 24, 2018, retrieved 12 October 2020^
  16. James Fontanella-Khan, Ortenca Aliaj, Alistair Gray, Patrick Temple. Dunkin' closes in on $9bn sale to Inspire Brands Financial Times, October 25, 2020, retrieved October 26, 2020^
  17. Heather Haddon. Inspire Brands to Acquire Dunkin' Brands Group for $11.3 Billion Including Debt Wall Street Journal, October 30, 2020, retrieved October 30, 2020^
  18. Inspire Brands Completes Acquisition of Dunkin' Brands www.businesswire.com, 2020-12-15, retrieved 2020-12-15^
  19. This Fast Food Giant Bragged About Killing $15 Minimum Wage Newsweek, 27 March 2021, retrieved 28 March 2025^
  20. Dunkin' Donuts and Arby's commits to sourcing only cage-free eggs New Food Magazine, retrieved 2025-06-06^
  21. Jonathan Maze. Inspire Brands sells Rusty Taco to the owner of Cicis Pizza Restaurant Business, 19 December 2022, retrieved 26 December 2022^
  22. Roark weights $2 billion IPO of Dunkin Owner Inspire Brands Reuters, 6 March 2026^