AES Restaurant Group Becomes World's Largest Arby's Franchisee With 362 Restaurants

The Announcement

Indiana-based AES Restaurant Group has become the largest Arby's franchisee in the world, Franchising.com reported on 4 November 2026.

Key Facts

• Acquisition: Bought 23 Arby's restaurants in Knoxville, Tennessee, from Arby's parent Inspire Brands

• Scale: Now operates 362 restaurants across 20 states

• History: Founded in 2004 with six Arby's locations

• Leadership: Owner and CEO John Wade; President and COO Jay Bedrosian

Why It Matters

Franchisors continue to sell company-owned units to large multi-unit operators, concentrating systems around fewer, bigger franchisees.

Photo: "An Arby's restaurant in Blairsville, Ga" by Harrison Keely, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY 4.0. Not an AES-operated location.

Source: Franchising.com