Sphera Franchise Group reports RON 754.5 million in H1 2026 sales

Sphera Franchise Group, Romania’s largest food service group, reported consolidated sales of RON 754.5 million for the first half of 2026, a 1.2% increase compared to the same period in 2025. This growth was driven by new restaurant openings, particularly under the Taco Bell brand.

Despite the overall sales increase, the second quarter of 2026 faced a difficult consumer environment due to fiscal changes and political uncertainty. Restaurant sales across the group's three markets fell by 1.6% to RON 376.6 million during the second quarter. Normalized profit for the first half of the year decreased by 22.6% to RON 13.7 million, while normalized EBITDA remained stable at RON 52.5 million with a 7% margin.

Geographically, Romania remains the primary market with sales of RON 648.2 million, up 1.5%. The Republic of Moldova saw the strongest growth at 18%, reaching RON 16 million, following the brand's expansion into Chisinau. Conversely, sales in Italy decreased by 3% to RON 90.3 million due to unfavorable market conditions and the closure of two units.

CEO Călin Ionescu stated the company is focusing on diversifying its portfolio by adding brands like wagamama and optimizing the Pizza Hut network to drive long-term value.