Burger King accelerates U.S. turnaround through refranchising

Burger King is accelerating a turnaround strategy in the United States by selling company-operated restaurants to local franchisees. The company expects to refranchise approximately 200 locations by the end of 2026. This move follows Restaurant Brands International’s 2024 acquisition of Carrols Restaurant Group, which added over 1,000 company-owned locations to its portfolio.

Ultimately, Burger King aims to operate only about 300 locations directly, leaving the remainder of its more than 6,000 U.S. restaurants to franchisees. The company is prioritizing operators with strong local involvement over private-equity-backed entities to drive reinvestment in facilities and service.

The shift comes amid reported momentum, including an 8.5 percent increase in domestic same-store sales in the latest quarter and recent growth that saw the chain overtake Wendy’s in U.S. systemwide sales. Restaurant Brands International has committed over $1 billion to modernize U.S. locations, targeting that 85 to 90 percent of domestic restaurants meet modern design standards by 2028.