Private Restaurant Brands Show Polarized 2025 Unit Growth
An analysis of 30 major private restaurant brands reveals 2025 unit growth was dominated by five chains, which accounted for 55% of all additions.
A comprehensive analysis of 30 major private restaurant brands reveals 2025 unit growth patterns with notable expansion from select systems and contraction from others. The data, drawn from 2026 Franchise Disclosure Documents, shows the five fastest-growing brands were responsible for 55% of all unit additions last year. Only seven systems shrank in 2025, but their declines were substantial.
Top growth performers
The five fastest-growing restaurant brands accounted for 55% of all unit additions in 2025, led by Cinnabon's 308-unit expansion. The following table details the net unit additions for the top-performing brands in the study.
| Brand | 2025 Unit Additions |
|---|---|
| Cinnabon | 308 |
| Dunkin' | 281 |
| Chick-fil-A | 178 |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe | 136 |
| Nothing Bundt Cafe | 119 |
| Panda Express | 105 |
| Little Caesars | 93 |
| Jimmy John's | 88 |
| Cold Stone Creamery | 60 |
| Scooter's Coffee | 57 |
| Auntie Anne's | 54 |
| Qdoba | 50 |
| Culver's | 44 |
| Crumbl | 42 |
| Smoothie King | 41 |
| Bojangles | 37 |
| Zaxby's | 36 |
| Panera Bread | 29 |
| Five Guys | 25 |
| Marco's Pizza | 25 |
| Dairy Queen, Treat | 16 |
| Dairy Queen, Grill & Chill | 14 |
| Charleys Cheesesteaks | 13 |
| Church's Texas Chicken | 12 |
Significant contractions
Major chains including Subway, Pizza Hut, and Arby's experienced substantial unit declines, with Subway losing 729 locations in 2025 alone. Subway has been shrinking for more than a decade and has lost more than 3,000 units since 2021. Other notable contractions include Pizza Hut, which declined by 206 units, and Arby's, which declined by 100 units. Hardee's shrank by 86 units, Sonic Drive-in by 49, Carl's Jr. by 40, and Baskin-Robbins by 9.
Crumbl's growth and challenges
Despite reaching 1,059 units in 2024, Crumbl added only 42 units in 2025 while experiencing declining average unit volumes and closing 57 locations. The brand had grown explosively from 142 units in 2021, representing 646% growth over four years. Its net growth of 42 units in 2025 came from 54 openings, 11 closures, and one company-owned closure. Meanwhile, its average unit volumes declined from over $1.3 million to $1.1 million between 2024 and 2025. At least 57 locations had closed as of October 2026.
Context for emerging franchise opportunities is provided by beverage chain HTeaO, which has approximately 200 locations across 11 states. Described as one of the nation's fastest-growing beverage franchises, HTeaO offers over 25 flavors of sweetened and unsweetened iced tea with drive-thru service. Its operating system features a focused menu and a self-service model designed to minimize labor costs. The chain has partnered with Dine Growth Group to accelerate expansion into new states and markets. DGG's portfolio includes brands like East Coast Wings + Grill and Sammy's Sliders. The group aims to provide strategic guidance to help franchises grow and thrive, with leadership that includes former executives from major chains like Chicken Salad Chick. HTeaO franchisees benefit from a simplified system and customizable beverage options, with limited-time offerings that reflect evolving consumer tastes. This unit-level performance data remains a critical metric for assessing the health of franchise systems.
