Inspire Brands
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fast food |
| Founded | February 5, 2018 |
| Founder | Roark Capital Group |
| Headquarters | Sandy Springs, Georgia , United States |
Area served | United States (and worldwide) |
Key people | Paul Brown (CEO) |
| Products | Fast food franchises including Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic Drive-In, Jimmy John's, Dunkin' Donuts, Baskin-Robbins |
| Owner | Roark Capital Group |
Inspire Brands LLC is a prominent American fast-food franchise enterprise supported by Roark Capital Group. Its portfolio includes well-known chains such as Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic Drive-In, Jimmy John's, Dunkin' Donuts, and Baskin-Robbins. Together, these brands encompass approximately 33,000 locations and generate system sales totaling US$32.6 billion, positioning Inspire among the top fast-food companies worldwide.
History
Formed on February 5, 2018, Inspire Brands emerged from the consolidation of Arby's Restaurant Group and Buffalo Wild Wings, which also held ownership of Rusty Taco. Paul Brown, previously CEO of Arby's, was appointed to lead Inspire Brands with a vision to grow through acquiring a variety of restaurant concepts and organizing the company in a manner akin to Hilton Hotels & Resorts. This transaction led to Roark Capital reducing The Wendy's Company's ownership share from 18.5% down to 12.3%. In September 2018, Inspire reverted the branding of R Taco’s 27 outlets back to Rusty Taco.
On August 16, 2018, The Wendy's Company divested its remaining 12.3% interest in Inspire Brands back to the company for $450 million, reflecting a 38% premium. Shortly thereafter, Inspire announced plans to move its corporate headquarters to Sandy Springs, Georgia.
Inspire expanded further on September 25, 2018, by acquiring Sonic Drive-In, based in Oklahoma City, for $2.3 billion; the acquisition was completed in December of that year. A year later, on September 25, 2019, Inspire revealed the purchase of the Jimmy John's sandwich chain, with the transaction concluding in October.
The company earned the Franchise Times’ Dealmaker of the Year award in 2019 for its strategic acquisitions of Buffalo Wild Wings and Sonic Drive-In.
On October 25, 2020, Inspire Brands announced its $11.3 billion acquisition of Dunkin' Brands, finalizing the deal on December 15, 2020.
In March 2021, Inspire communicated its advocacy efforts to franchise owners and staff, highlighting its role in successfully preventing the inclusion of a $15 minimum wage mandate within the American Rescue Plan Act.
By August 2021, Inspire committed to exclusively sourcing cage-free eggs for all its brands by the year 2025.
On December 19, 2022, Inspire divested Rusty Taco to Gala Capital Partners, which also owns Cicis Pizza, Dunn Brothers Coffee, and Mooyah.
Brands
As of June 2025, Inspire Brands operates and manages the following restaurant chains: