Flynn Group to Grow Applebee’s Stake By Dozens

The largest franchisee operator of Applebee’s is growing its unit count, both immediately and in the future.

Flynn Group owns and operates over 450 Applebee’s restaurants across 23 states, now including the fresh acquisition of 26 units from longstanding brand franchisee, Doherty Enterprises. An announcement says team members at the acquired units, located in Florida and Georgia, were offered jobs with Flynn Group to ensure a continuous experience for guests. Doherty Enterprises maintains its ownership of 80 units in New York and New Jersey.

Further, Flynn Group has agreed to open 25 new Applebee’s restaurants in new markets across the U.S. over the next seven years. Applebee’s says this expansion goal is part of its development strategy to return the brand to net new unit openings.

As of December 2023, Applebee’s franchise operations consist of 1,642 Applebee’s restaurants in the U.S., two U.S. territories and 11 countries outside the U.S. The brand also has 12 ghost kitchens, 10 of which are international.

Flynn Group (formerly Flynn Restaurant Group), meanwhile, owns and operates over 2,600 consumer-facing businesses across Applebee’s, Arby’s, Taco Bell, Panera, Pizza Hut, Wendy’s and Planet Fitness brands, with units spanning 44 states, Australia and New Zealand.