Franchise News Desk
Franchise market news, trends and announcements
Breaking updates, expansion plans, funding deals and industry trends across Indian and international franchise brands.
Southeast Asian Buyers Circle Korean Franchises as Mom's Touch and Norang Tongdak Sales Loom
Major Southeast Asian companies are pursuing control of South Korean food franchises, with Mom's Touch and Norang Tongdak hiring global investment banks to manage their sales.
24 September 2026
Subway Signs Master Franchise Deal for 300 Restaurants Across Five European Markets
Subway has signed a master franchise agreement with Emerging Bites Holdings to open 300 restaurants across Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic over the next ten years.
23 September 2026
Burger Singh Targets 180 New Outlets in Karnataka in Largest City-Focused Push Yet
Homegrown QSR chain Burger Singh plans 180 new outlets across Karnataka, scaling Bengaluru from 8 to 80 stores and inviting franchise partners across the state.
23 September 2026
Bonchon Acquired by Minor Food and Serruya Private Equity in Global Ownership Split
Korean fried chicken brand Bonchon has been acquired by Minor Food and Serruya Private Equity, with Minor Food taking the brand globally outside the Americas and Serruya owning it across the Americas.
21 September 2026
JD Sports Enters Mexico Through Long-Term Franchise Partnership with Grupo Axo
JD Sports Fashion announces a long-term franchise partnership with Mexico's Grupo Axo, which will operate over 140 JD stores and e-commerce from 2027.
21 September 2026
FreshTerra Opens Second Gurugram Store at Elan Epic, Targets 12–15 Stores by FY28
Fresh and gourmet food retail brand FreshTerra, owned by Elixiir Foods, opens its second Gurugram store just two months after its flagship launch.
21 September 2026
STRONG Pilates Signs Master Franchise for Saudi Arabia; Healthpreneurs to Deliver 21 Studios in the Middle East
Melbourne-based fitness franchise STRONG Pilates has signed a master franchise agreement with Saudi operator Healthpreneurs, committing to 21 locations over a 10-year term starting with three studios in Jeddah and Riyadh from 2026.
21 September 2026
TGI Fridays Enters the Balkans with 10-Unit Devolli Group Franchise Deal
TGI Fridays signs a franchise development agreement with Devolli Group for 10 restaurants across Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia — its first Balkans entry.
21 September 2026
K-Bites Debuts in Mumbai: Korean Street-Food QSR Brand Opens First Outlet in Bandra
Ambros World Foods' Korean street-food QSR brand K-Bites has launched its first Mumbai outlet on Hill Road, Bandra, entering the city's competitive QSR market with a made-to-order, takeaway-led model. Priced at Rs 450-500 per person, the menu features Miso Ramen, Bibimbap, Bao and more. The Bandra launch is the first step in a pan-India expansion with upcoming outlets in Chembur, Bengaluru and Visakhapatnam.
20 September 2026
AGARO Lifestyle Opens 37th Store in Vadodara Gujarat; D2C Appliance Brand Eyes Offline Franchise Growth
AGARO, India’s rapidly growing premium home and kitchen appliances brand, has hit a major retail milestone by launching its 37th Exclusive Brand Outlet (EBO) nationwide at Eva The Mall, Vadodara, Gujarat. Originating as a dominant, bootstrapped D2C digital player, AGARO is aggressively scaling its physical presence via highly lucrative franchise and distribution networks to provide consumers with an immersive, hands-on experiential retail environment.
20 September 2026
Benne Raises ₹35 Crore in Pre-Series A Round Led by Claypond Capital; Opens CyberHub Gurugram Outlet
Bengaluru-style dosa QSR brand Benne has raised ₹35 crore in a pre-Series A round led by Claypond Capital and expanded to Gurugram's CyberHub — its fifth outlet and second in the NCR.
20 September 2026
Wagamama Enters India, Opens First Restaurant in Delhi NCR with K Hospitality
Global Asian dining brand Wagamama has entered India through a partnership with K Hospitality, opening its first outlet in Delhi NCR.
20 September 2026
Popeyes Opens 12th Chennai Restaurant; Jubilant FoodWorks Launches First Green Popeyes Store in India at Navalur
Jubilant FoodWorks has launched Popeyes' first green store in India at Navalur, Chennai, taking the Louisiana fried chicken chain to 12 restaurants in the city along the OMR IT corridor.
20 September 2026
Decathlon India Reports 20X Growth in B2B Vertical Over Five Years, Expands to 20,000+ Entities
Driven by demand from corporates, SMEs and startups for sports and wellness solutions, French sports retailer Decathlon India's B2B vertical has scaled 20-fold in five years to serve over 20,000 entities across the country, with its wholesale arm now contributing 10% of its India revenue and over 40% of B2B demand coming from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
18 September 2026
QSR Brands Double Down on Tier-2 and Tier-3 India as Franchise Demand Surges
Quick-service restaurant chains are shifting their expansion maps toward Indore, Coimbatore, Lucknow and other emerging cities, where lower rentals and rising disposable incomes are rewriting franchise unit economics.
18 September 2026
Fabletics Enters India With Reliance Brands; First Store At DLF Promenade, Delhi
US-based athleisure label Fabletics has announced its entry into India through an exclusive long-term partnership with Reliance Brands Limited. The brand will debut with a dedicated India website and its first mono-brand store at DLF Promenade, Vasant Kunj, followed by a second store in Mumbai, strengthening RBL's activewear portfolio.
18 September 2026
Honeyman Goes International, Signs Nepal Country Franchise with MV Dugar Group
Indian honey-first F&B brand Honeyman, with 100+ outlets, signs a country franchise agreement with Nepal's MV Dugar Group — its first overseas market.
18 September 2026
India Overtakes America: How a US-Born Business Giant Found Its Biggest Market Thousands of Miles From Home
In a historic franchise shift, BNI India has officially surpassed the United States as the largest market in the global networking giant's ecosystem. Driven by a massive community of over 75,300 entrepreneurs across 1,559 chapters, the network has generated ₹58,529 crores ($7B+ USD) in economic value, cementing India's role as the primary engine for global grassroots business referrals.
18 September 2026
Juniper Hotels to Acquire Novotel Imagicaa for ₹248 Crore in Strategic Asset Deal
In a ₹248 crore asset deal, listed luxury hotel owner Juniper Hotels will acquire the 287-key Novotel Imagicaa from Imagicaaworld Entertainment. The ready-to-operate property in Khopoli adds immediate cash flow to Juniper's portfolio of 1,895 keys, with closure expected by March 2027.
17 September 2026
GRT Jewellers to Acquire 74.12% Controlling Stake in TBZ for Rs 1,034 Crore
GRT Jewellers India to acquire 74.12% controlling stake in listed jewellery retailer Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri for Rs 1,034 crore, with an open offer for an additional 26% stake under SEBI rules.
17 September 2026
Education Franchises Pivot to Hybrid Models as Enrolments Climb Across India
Coaching, skilling and early-education franchise networks are blending classroom centres with digital delivery, unlocking smaller-town expansion and improving centre-level profitability.
17 September 2026
L Catterton Invests in Nandhana Foods to Drive South Indian Restaurant Expansion
Investment firm L Catterton has signed a definitive agreement to invest in South Indian restaurant group Nandhana Foods, backing its next phase of growth across India.
17 September 2026
Global Franchise Brands Line Up India Entries as Consumer Spending Strengthens
International food, retail and hospitality franchisors are accelerating India entry plans through master franchise and area-development deals, targeting the country's fast-growing consumer market.
16 September 2026
AI and Automation Move to the Core of Franchise Operations Worldwide
From AI-driven demand forecasting to automated back-office workflows, franchise systems worldwide are investing in technology that lifts unit-level margins and standardises the customer experience.
15 September 2026
Benne Expands NCR Footprint with New CyberHub Outlet in Gurugram
Bengaluru-style dosa QSR brand Benne has opened a new outlet at CyberHub, Gurugram, days after closing a ₹35 crore pre-Series A round led by Claypond Capital.
15 September 2026
Sides Signs Master Franchise Deal for 51 Middle East Restaurants
UK chicken brand Sides signs a master franchise agreement with Element F&B (Al Kharafi Group) covering 51 restaurants across six Middle East markets.
11 September 2026
Popo Global Raises ₹532 Crore From Artal Asia, Eyes National Expansion of The Pizza Bakery
Bengaluru-based Popo Global, parent of The Pizza Bakery, Paris Panini and Smash Guys, has secured ₹532 crore from Artal Asia in its first external funding round to fuel expansion across India.
11 September 2026
Pizza Hut CEO Aaron Powell Steps Down as $1.5 Billion LongRange Capital Sale Nears Close
Pizza Hut global CEO Aaron Powell has announced his departure as the chain's $1.5 billion transfer to LongRange Capital approaches completion, part of Yum! Brands' $2.7 billion divestiture.
2 September 2026
Choice Hotels Names Insider Dominic Dragisich as President and CEO
Choice Hotels International has appointed Dominic Dragisich as President and CEO, elevating the nearly decade-long company veteran after he served as Interim CEO since May 2026.
31 August 2026
Vietnam's HappiTea Signs 35 Franchise Outlets, Targets 150 Stores Across India in 2026
Vietnamese bubble tea brand HappiTea has signed over 35 franchise outlets across eight Indian states and is targeting 150+ stores in 2026 through its master franchise partnership with FranGlobal.
4 June 2026
Orchestra PE Acquires Korea's Mammoth Coffee in $66 Million Deal, Names Ex-KFC Korea Executive as CEO
South Korean private equity firm Orchestra PE has acquired 100% of low-cost coffee franchise Mammoth Coffee and Seojin Roasters for approximately $66.3 million, appointing former KFC Korea executive Lee Chang-hoon as CEO.
29 May 2026
New York's Harlem Shake Prepares India Entry with FranGlobal, Rolls Out Master Franchise Territories
Harlem Shake, the community-focused fast casual brand from Harlem, New York, is entering India through Franchise India with advisory by FranGlobal, offering regional master-franchise and area-development opportunities.
12 May 2026