Wendy’s | Wend American Group

Overview:

Greg Flynn founded Flynn Restaurant Group (FRG) in 1998 as the owner and operator of eight Applebee’s in Washington State. Over the next 16 years, Greg strategically charted the course of the business to develop and acquire more than 750 restaurants that together represent $1.7 billion in sales.

While the initial focus was on growing within the Applebee’s system, the company branched out into other brands first adding Taco Bell in 2013 followed by Panera in 2015 where it was first new franchise admitted into the system in over 10 years.

Today, through its three wholly-owned subsidiaries, Apple American Group, Bell American, and Pan American, the company owns and operates over 480 Applebee’s, 200 Taco Bells, and 50 Paneras directly employing 40,000 people in 28 states.

Combined this makes FRG the largest restaurant franchise brand, and one of the 50 largest foodservice companies in the United States.

All three concepts are assisted by the Support Center, located in Independence, Ohio.