Arrive on time, as this is an opportunity for every attendee to introduce themselves to the others in the room.

Hadi Chahin, President of QuickBite Collective, shares the story behind one of Canada’s fastest-growing multi-brand QSR companies. From bold new concepts to iconic legacy brands, Hadi will reveal how QuickBite is scaling as a platform business, combining rapid expansion, cultural relevance, and operational excellence to create long-term value. He’ll offer insights on identifying growth opportunities, scaling multiple brands strategically, and positioning a franchise system for lasting success.

Every franchisor, multi-unit franchisee, and their advisors need to understand the reasons why franchise companies are highly sought after by private equity firms, multi-royalty companies, and other strategic buyers.

This session explores the latest trends in deal structures, and how they are shaping current valuations. Hear from leading industry experts about the factors that make franchisors and multi-unit franchisees attractive in today’s market, the types of buyers actively pursuing deals, and ideal scale to capitalize on opportunities.

Whether you're planning for growth, succession, or exit, this annual update offers practical insights to help you navigate the changing landscape and position your business for long-term value. Stay ahead of the curve and unlock the full potential of your franchise business with this essential session.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the demand for franchise companies among private equity firms and other buyers.

2. Learn strategies to attract strategic investors for franchisors and multi-unit franchisees.

3. Explore methods to create a strong foundation to maximize value and potential for future sale.

There is no better way to learn than from those who have successfully navigated the journey before. John Evans founded Everline in 2012, and in 12 short years launched a successful franchisor business from his base in Calgary, across Canada, into the US, and in 2024, secured a significant investment and partial sale to Red Iron Group, a US based PE firm. Hear directly from the people involved as they share their wisdom and insights from real-world experience in successfully completing a transformative deal. 

Learning Objectives

1. Learn from industry veterans' real-world experience completing franchise transactions.
2. Identify essential strategies and best practices for successfully navigating franchise deals.
3. Apply practical insights from seasoned experts to your own growth, acquisition, or exit plans.

John Hamburger, publisher of Restaurant Finance Monitor and Franchise Times Magazine and a former multi-unit operator will trace franchising’s evolution from mom-and-pop ownership to today’s dominance by sophisticated multi-unit, multi-brand operators, especially in restaurants.

Drawing on research he’s conducted from 1991 to 2024, he will discuss the rise of giant franchisees such as the Flynn Group and Sun Holdings, noting that nearly all top operators now run multiple brands.

He’ll discuss the influence of asset-light strategies, the impact of technology enabling above-store management, and abundant, brand-driven financing, alongside franchisors’ desire for reduced company ownership and greater international focus.

Finally, he will flag potential issues that have arisen in the United States that may be instructive for Canadian franchisors including tighter franchisor controls and caps on the number of units franchisees are permitted to own, rising build/remodel costs, and uneven unit economics—pressures that may push some franchisees/operators into other franchise sectors.

Over the last decade or so, private equity firms and other institutional buyers have turned their focus not only to franchisors, but increasingly to multi-unit—and often multi-brand—franchisees. While this trend has been firmly established in the U.S., it’s now making greater inroads in the Canadian market. What does this shift mean for franchise systems, operators, and growth strategies north of the border?

This panel will explore the drivers behind this model, its benefits and limitations, and the factors that make franchisee groups appealing to investors. You’ll hear directly from brands that support multi-unit expansion and gain insights into how private equity views these operators. Whether you're a franchisor, multi-unit franchisee, or advisor, this session offers a timely look at an evolving ownership structure that’s reshaping the franchise landscape.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the growing trend of private equity investment in multi-unit and multi-brand franchisees, particularly in the Canadian context.

2. Learn what makes multi-unit operators attractive to investors and how this changes the traditional franchisor–franchisee dynamic.

3. Explore how brands are supporting the multi-unit model and the implications for system growth, performance, and operational alignment.