Burger King's Parent Company Plans to Open 1,800 New Restaurants a Year by 2028
Restaurant Brands International has outlined an aggressive expansion strategy. The Miami-based parent of Burger King, Tim Hortons, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs is targeting around 1,800 net new restaurants per year by 2028. The company currently operates more than 33,000 locations across 120-plus countries.
In North America, RBI plans to open between 300 and 400 net new restaurants per year in the U.S. and Canada by 2028. Firehouse Subs is expected to lead that growth, contributing roughly half - about 150 to 200 new units annually. Tim Hortons and Popeyes will split the remainder.
Tim Hortons sees room to grow in markets it hasn't fully reached, including Western Canada and Quebec. In the U.S., the chain is expanding into states like Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, Texas and New York. Popeyes pulled back on new openings in 2025 to focus on operations, with plans to pick up development again in the years ahead.
Overseas, Burger King China is central to RBI's international push. A new partnership with Asia-based asset manager CPE, completed earlier this month, is expected to add over 200 net new locations by 2028. CPE has committed to doubling the brand's footprint to 2,500 restaurants within five years, backed by a $350 million investment. Beyond China, RBI's top 10 international growth markets - including India, the U.K., Mexico, France and Japan - are on track to deliver around 700 new units per year by 2028.
"Our growth is powered by four iconic brands with deep heritage in their communities and enduring guest loyalty, supported by exceptional franchisees and great talent around the world," said CEO Josh Kobza. "As we look toward 2028 and beyond, we see a highly franchised, asset-light business delivering consistent 5%-plus net restaurant growth, predictable earnings growth, and strong double-digit total shareholder returns."
Alongside the expansion, Burger King is updating its core menu and operations. The Whopper is getting a new glazed bun, creamier mayo and box packaging to replace its paper wrapping. The company is also rolling out an AI voice assistant called "Patty," which helps staff manage inventory, answer menu questions and improve drive-thru accuracy.
On the ownership side, RBI is refranchising restaurants it acquired from Carrols in 2024 - and moving faster than expected. CFO Sam Siddiqui said the program is roughly two years ahead of the original schedule. "We're committed to becoming a simpler, 99% franchised business over the next few years," he said.
The chain sold about 100 restaurants to operators last year and plans to accelerate that pace in 2025. "The most critical thing is that we get the restaurants into the right hands, the hands of local owner operators who are going to be aligned to driving great guest experiences," Siddiqui said.
