Restaurants aim to create their own unique experience, but that doesn't mean each restaurant
brand necessarily stands alone. A multitude of chain restaurants are actually operated
by the same parent company. Some seem to match up quite well together, but others are a bit
of an oddball pairing.
Walking through the mall, it's pretty difficult to ignore the wafting smells of sweet cinnamon
buns. Opening the first location in Seattle, Washington in 1985, Cinnabon has since gained
a cult following across the U.S. and in more than 50 countries around the world.
On the other end of the mall, the smell of freshly baked soft pretzels coming from Auntie
Anne's is hard to ignore. And while it may seem that these two common shopping mall snack
staples are competitors, they actually live harmoniously under one company.
Both Cinnabon and Auntie Anne's are owned by Focus Brands, after the parent company
purchased Auntie Anne's in 2010. But there are certainly plenty of other popular eateries
in the same family. Jamba Juice, Carvel, Schlotzsky's, McAlister's Deli, and Moe's Southwest Grill
all share a piece of the family pie as well. And with all of those brands in the mix, Focus
Brands is one of the largest global foodservice brands, operating over 6,000 establishments
over 50 different countries.
Heading into an IHOP, whether it's for breakfast or dinner, a diner knows they can always order
a short stack of pancakes. Other options such as omelets, sandwiches, and even a roasted
turkey entrée are on the menu as well, making IHOP one of the most diverse casual eateries
out there.
Another casual eatery in the neighborhood, Applebee's, has been around since 1980, serving
up everything from wings and burgers to salads and seafood. And while both eateries boast
a casual come-as-you-are atmosphere, they don't have much in common other than their
parent company.
Applebee's and IHOP live under the same company, Dine Brands, after the investor completed
the acquisition of Applebee's International Inc. in 2007.
While Red Lobster has long been known for its seafood options, it may be those Cheddar
Bay biscuits that really get you going back for more. The first Red Lobster opened in
1968 as founder Bill Darden hoped to bring great seafood to everyone in a convenient,
affordable way. The concept caught on, and restaurant guests have been enjoying copious
amounts of seafood ever since.
As guests munched on cheddar biscuits, the chain caught the attention of Golden Gate
Capital, and the parent company purchased Red Lobster for $2.1 billion in 2014. The
sale was the latest feather in the parent company's cap, adding the chain alongside
California Pizza Kitchen, which it had purchased in 2011.
When the first Arby's opened in 1964, it was all about serving up freshly sliced roast
beef, paired with delicious toppings and sides like their famous curly fries.
"Most people still think that Arby's only serves roast beef sandwiches. Well, if that's
the case, we sure have a lot of odd-looking roast beef sandwiches."
Oddly enough, Arby's ended up pairing up with Wendy's International in 2008, but it wasn't
a relationship that lasted especially long. Arby's eventually split from Wendy's and was
acquired by its parent company Roark Capital, which eventually founded Inspire Brands in
2018.
Inspire Brands ended up adding another sandwich maker to their line-up, purchasing Jimmy John's
in 2019. But Inspire Brands' reach certainly doesn't stop there. The parent company also
owns Buffalo Wild Wings and Rusty Taco, along with Sonic, which it acquired in 2018.
It's close to midnight and you have a ridiculous craving for tacos. So, what do you do? Head
to the Taco Bell drive-thru, of course. Taco Bell has been our ride or die for quick, craveable
food for more than 50 years, but who knew this fast food giant was in such good company
with another delicious staple?
Taco Bell is just one of Yum! Brands' global companies, with Pizza Hut and KFC right by
its side. And while each restaurant had its own humble beginnings, the trio came together
to form Tricon Global Restaurants, or Yum! Brands Inc. Some locations have continued
to operate on their own, but it's not uncommon to see combinations of Taco Bell and Pizza
Hut. Every day we get a little bit closer to the future of Demolition Man.
Tim Hortons, opened in 1964, is Canada's largest restaurant chain, with a focus on coffee drinks,
baked goods, and sandwiches. Home to The Whopper, Burger King was established in 1954, serving
up their signature burgers and fries. But in 2014, the two beloved chains began operating
under the same ownership, Restaurant Brands International, and now, the company has close
to 26,000 restaurants under their scope, spanning over 100 countries.
But Timmy's and Burger King aren't the only brands under Restaurant Brands International's
purview. Popeye's, established in New Orleans in 1972, was added to the family as well.
According to Nation's Restaurant News, the company purchased Popeyes in 2017 for $1.8
billion with plans for plenty of future growth.
Opening its doors in 1937, Krispy Kreme has been well-known for serving up warm confections
right off the conveyor belt or boxed up by the dozen. And perhaps that's the allure that
restaurant company JAB Holding Company found in 2016 when it acquired the Krispy Kreme
brand for $1.35 billion.
As it turns out, though, one company devoted to baked goods just wasn't enough for JAB
Holding. In 2017, the restaurant group acquired the popular soup and salad fast casual chain
Panera Bread Company in a deal that closed for $7.5 billion. Panera Bread joined the
other brands under JAB Holding's umbrella including Peet's Coffee & Tea, Caribou Coffee,
and Einstein Bagels.
The idea of being able to order exactly what you'd like to have on a sandwich and have
it prepared right in front of you is certainly not a new concept. Quizno's has been making
sandwiches that way since 1981 and adds in the welcome element of toasting your sandwich
as it goes down the line.
Meanwhile, Taco Del Mar offers up the same concept with a different type of cuisine.
Launching in Seattle, Washington in 1992, Taco Del Mar Americanized Mexican food, offering
guests the option to order at the counter. Guests were able to choose their type of meat
and beans, along with their toppings and sauces, watching their burrito or taco salad being
made right in front of them.
High Bluff Capital purchased Quizno's in 2018, but the acquisition wasn't enough for the
company at the time. Taco Del Mar caught the investment company's eye just one month after
the deal went through.
When you think of Olive Garden, it's probably breadsticks that come to mind. You may also
think about their signature salad and soups, and pasta too. And we owe our thanks to Darden
Restaurants Inc. for owning and operating that favorite family dinner spot.
But Olive Garden certainly isn't the only restaurant under the Darden Restaurants umbrella.
Longhorn Steakhouse, known for its bold flavors with dishes from steaks and ribs to salads,
was acquired by the restaurant company in 2007. Red Lobster eventually made its way
to Golden Gate Capital in 2014, but Darden still held on to Olive Garden and Longhorn
Steakhouse.
Chili's has had a longtime reputation for their giant margaritas and killer happy hour
deals. The casual eatery has attracted guests since 1975, offering a great hangout spot
paired with a menu boasting everything from burgers and fajitas to wings. However, it's
safe to say that their most prominent claim to fame is their ribs, thanks to that earworm
of a baby back ribs jingle.
"I want my baby back baby back baby back."
"Chili's! Baby back ribs!"
Maggiano's Little Italy, on the other hand, has developed a reputation for offering family-style
Italian-American meals such as eggplant parmesan and rigatoni arrabbiata since the restaurant
first opened in 1991. Just four years after Maggiano's opened, and with only four restaurants
under its operation at the time, it caught the eye of Brinker International. Brinker
purchased the restaurant in 1995 and would add the eatery to its operations of Chili's
locations. Brinker International now operates over 1,600 restaurants that span throughout
29 countries.
Baskin-Robbins has been a household name in the ice cream business for decades. In 1945,
when most ice cream shops were sticking to the classics like chocolate and vanilla, Irv
Robbins and Burt Baskins were dreaming up ways to offer a flavor every single person
would enjoy. Low and behold, over 70 years later, Baskin-Robbins is still going strong.
With more than 1,300 flavors over the years, Baskin-Robbins offers a flavor choice for
every type of ice cream lover.
Opening just five years later is Baskin-Robbins' delicious cousin, Dunkin' Donuts. In addition
to pastries, the brand serves hot breakfast sandwiches and a wide variety of coffee drinks,
and has been doing so since 1950.
The two live under the same Dunkin' Brands company name and reach customers through their
more than 20,000 locations spanning 60 countries. Some stores stand on their own, while many
are co-branded, offering a one-stop-shop for donuts, coffee, and ice cream.
Think about Outback Steakhouse, and what first comes to mind? For many, it's their signature
dish, the Bloomin' Onion, paired with their Aussie-inspired entrees such as grilled chicken
or steak. It's a spot to go for a variety of menu items with great portion sizes and
a casual atmosphere. And for Outback's parent company, Bloomin' Brands, that is exactly
the dining experience they aimed to create when four friends came together to open a
restaurant in the '80s.
Aptly named, Bloomin' Brands opened their first restaurant, Outback Steakhouse, in Florida
in 1988. Now, the company boasts over 1,450 various restaurants worldwide as Bloomin'
Brands continued to introduce new and unique concepts over the years.
"Outback steakhouse."
"It's not too late. They got that blooming onion."
"What's wrong with spicing things up a little?"
Bonefish Grill was eventually added to their portfolio as Bloomin' Brands aimed to bring
a fresh seafood experience to the dining scene. But those weren't the only two restaurants
that the original group of friends launched. The Bloomin' Brands company also owns and
operates Carrabba's Italian Grill, Fleming's, and Aussie Grill, a fast food spin-off of
Outback Steakhouse.
For decades, ice cream fans have flocked to Dairy Queen for their frozen treats like the
dipped cones and the signature Dilly Bar and Blizzard. The franchise devoted to quick-service
food, with ice cream for dessert, has been prominent in the lives of countless families
since the first store opened in 1940.
In 1926, Orange Julius developed its signature recipe as Julius Freed and Bill Hamlin worked
to find a solution to making blended orange juice less acidic. The company skyrocketed
as Orange Julius launched a variety of easily accessible fruit smoothies, spinning off of
the original orange smoothie to include flavors like berry pomegranate and strawberry banana
along the way.
As both companies grew, Dairy Queen took note of Orange Julius and purchased the brand in
1987. At the time, Orange Julius became a subsidiary of International Dairy Queen, but
many of their locations continued to operate on their own. Now, it's common to see the
two treat stops under the same roof.
What exactly do a burrito joint and a children's entertainment hotspot have in common? Not
a whole lot, except that they happen to be part of the same big happy family.
Established in 1977, Chuck E. Cheese was the brainchild of Nolan Bushnell, who co-founded
Atari. The pizza joint turned into a family-friendly spot for eats, games, and plenty of birthday
parties over the years. In 2014, Apollo Global Management decided it needed a slice of the
pie, purchasing the chain for $950 million.
Not quite as old as its surprising cousin, Qdoba launched under the name Zuma Fresh Mexican
Grill in 1995, only to later be renamed to Qdoba Mexican Grill in 1999. In 2003, Jack
in the Box purchased Qdoba, but the relationship didn't work out, leading Apollo to step in
and purchase the chain for $305 million in 2018. Oddly enough, the two restaurant chains
aren't in good company with any other restaurant brands, but Apollo's portfolio does include
major companies such as gourmet supermarket chain The Fresh Market, along with ADT Security
Services.
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