Franchise Business Review names 2026 top food and beverage franchises

Franchise Business Review released its 2026 Top Food & Beverage Franchises list, highlighting 25 brands that scored well on franchisee satisfaction. The rankings are based on surveys from more than 11,000 franchisees and are meant to gauge the health of franchise systems across a competitive sector.

Why it matters: - Franchisee satisfaction can signal how well a brand supports operators, which affects retention, growth and long-term system health. - The list highlights which food and beverage chains are standing out in one of franchising’s most crowded categories.

What happened: - Franchise Business Review released its 2026 Top Food & Beverage Franchises list. - The ranking recognizes 25 franchise brands for strong franchisee satisfaction. - Brands on the list include Kona Ice, Potbelly Sandwich Works, Ellianos Coffee, Travelin' Tom's Coffee Truck, Apple Spice Box Lunch Delivery & Catering Co., Penn Station East Coast Subs and Pizza Factory. - The announcement was made Sept. 18, 2026, from Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

The details: - The rankings are based on survey responses from more than 11,000 franchisees across 52 food and beverage brands. - Those brands represent more than 42,000 locations nationwide. - Franchise Business Review asks franchisees 33 benchmark questions on satisfaction, trust, leadership, training and support. - The survey also measures work-life balance, day-to-day operations and profitability. - Franchise Business Review uses the results to calculate a Franchisee Satisfaction Index score for each brand. - The Franchisee Satisfaction Index was established in 2007 and is used to track franchise system health over time.

Between the lines: - Michelle Rowan, president of Franchise Business Review, said the food and beverage sector remains highly competitive. - Rowan said the brands on the list stand out because of their focus on the health of their systems.

What's next: - Franchise Business Review will likely continue using the Franchisee Satisfaction Index to compare brands and track changes in franchisee sentiment over time. - More brands may use future rankings as a benchmark for recruiting franchisees and improving support.

The bottom line: - In a competitive franchise category, franchisee satisfaction is a key signal of system strength, and FBR’s 2026 list spotlights the brands doing it best.