GPS Hospitality
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Quick service restaurant franchising |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Thomas A. Garrett |
Key people | Thomas A. Garrett (Founder) |
| Products | Franchisee of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Burger King, Pizza Hut |
Number of employees | 10000+ |
GPS Hospitality is a privately owned enterprise that functions mainly as a franchisee for quick service restaurant brands such as Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Burger King, and Pizza Hut. Established by Thomas A. Garrett in 2012, the organization employs a workforce exceeding 10,000 individuals.
History
Operations commenced for GPS Hospitality on October 19, 2012, with the acquisition of 42 Burger King franchises. The company expanded its portfolio on October 23, 2014, by purchasing 39 Burger King outlets in Cincinnati from Fire Grill, LLC. Subsequently, on December 18 of the same year, GPS acquired 36 Burger King locations situated in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey from Twoton Inc.
In July 2015, GPS Hospitality further increased its presence by obtaining 60 Burger King restaurants in Michigan from TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants, collaborating with The Cynosure Group and Nonami Investments. By 2016, the company ventured into the Popeyes franchise sector with seven units based in Atlanta and augmented its Burger King holdings by acquiring an additional 194 locations from Strategic Restaurants Acquisition Corporation (SRAC) Holdings. This expansion brought the total number of Burger King units under GPS to 424 across Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Arkansas.
On June 8, 2017, GPS added 11 more Popeyes outlets in Georgia, elevating its Popeyes portfolio to 19 units, which also included locations in West Virginia. In November 2018, GPS Hospitality received three prestigious honors from Burger King Corporation: "Global Franchisee of the Year," "North America Franchisee of the Year," and the "Gold Crown" award.
In 2019, GPS broadened its brand reach by acquiring 75 Pizza Hut franchises across Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee. This acquisition increased the company's total franchised restaurants to nearly 500 and aligned with GPS's strategic objective of achieving $1 billion in revenue by 2022.
Charitable contributions
In 2017, GPS Hospitality provided $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors through the Burger King McLamore Foundation to assist with their educational expenses.