Restaurant Brands International (QSR) plans to sell approximately 200 company-owned Burger King restaurants to franchisees by the end of 2026. The refranchising effort is part of Burger King’s “Reclaim the Flame” turnaround strategy, which has been credited with improving sales.
The locations largely came from Restaurant Brands International’s 2024 purchase of Carrols Restaurant Group, then Burger King’s largest franchisee. The company plans to shift toward smaller, local owner-operators who take a more active role in daily operations, rather than large, private equity-backed firms.
The shift is intended to improve store performance and move Burger King toward a more asset-light model. Restaurant Brands International expects to retain around 300 company-owned U.S. locations.