Mid-Year Insights with Patrick Cunningham, CDO of Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay
With nearly 30 years in franchising, Patrick Cunningham has helped shape the growth of industry giants like Dunkin’, Little Caesars and Inspire Brands. Now, as the newly appointed Chief Development Officer of Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay, he’s bringing that deep expertise to one of the most exciting brands in fast casual.
Backed by a culinary legend and built on a flexible model that fits today’s multi-unit operators, Bobby’s Burgers is positioned for a breakout year. At the halfway point of 2025, we caught up with Patrick to talk trends, challenges and what’s drawing savvy franchisees to the Bobby’s brand.
What key franchising trends are defining the landscape for growth-minded operators in 2025?
The trend in 2025 has continued to be that of multi-unit and multi-brand franchisees diversifying their portfolios. This helps to mitigate risk in various scenarios. Consolidation also continues to be a growing trend. Large-scale operators are scaling up, leveraging their organizational structures and geographical footprints.
Non-traditional growth is trending as high-traffic facilities like airports, colleges and universities are increasing their capacity and growing with their traffic. From a technology standpoint, franchisors are investing heavily, including inventory systems, centralized marketing and guest outreach platforms. Catering to a larger audience helps mitigate risk.
How are experienced multi-unit operators approaching new investments this year? What are they looking for that they weren’t five years ago?
Operators are definitely approaching investments with a more strategic focus than they have in the past. They’re looking for brands with quickly scalable models and favorable unit economics, rather than being confined to one consolidated area.
They also vet leadership teams and franchisee support systems. With ongoing labor shortages, operators favor brands that have a simple yet effective operating system.
What role is brand differentiation playing in the current market, especially in fast casual?
Fast casual is a very competitive marketplace. Consumers can choose almost anything they want, where they want it and when they want it. Unique experiences are important to consumers and therefore important to franchisees. Brands need to be able to tell a story that consumers latch on to.
Menu innovation and creativity are also very important for consumers and operators alike. Differentiation is about being distinctive, operationally sound and scalable. It’s not just about standing out today but being built to stand out in the future.
With inflation and real estate shifts still impacting site selection, how important is operational flexibility in 2025?
Operational flexibility in 2025 isn’t just important — it’s become critical for franchise growth and site selection. Inflation, rising buildout costs and real estate volatility are forcing both franchisors and franchisees to rethink how and where they scale.
Operational flexibility is no longer a nice-to-have — it’s a non-negotiable competitive advantage. Brands that empower operators to adapt location, labor and layout are better positioned to grow sustainably in today’s volatile environment.
If you had to name one reason why now is the right time to franchise with Bobby’s Burgers, what would it be?
There is no other brand like Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay. Bobby’s Burgers has it all — a chef-driven concept, an unforgettable burger experience with a quality menu that is second to none and an operating model that can be placed in a variety of environments. We provide Flay for All.
We are gaining significant traction here at Bobby’s Burgers, and missing out now may mean missing out on the opportunity altogether.
Where are franchisors missing the mark in 2025?
A lot of franchisors are still doing things the way they did 10 years ago and wondering why they’re not getting results. The consumer has changed. The franchisee has changed. And if your systems, menu, marketing and brand experience haven’t evolved, you’re going to get left behind.
At Bobby’s Burgers, we’re taking a different approach. We’re building a modern, scalable franchise model designed to meet the expectations of today’s guests and drive long-term growth. It’s a full reimagination of what a chef-driven, fast-casual brand can be. Now is the time for franchisors to lead with innovation, invest in their brand experience and create platforms built for sustained success.
For more information about Bobby’s Burgers, visit bobbysburgers.com. To learn about franchise opportunities, visit bobbysburgers.com/franchising.
About Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay
Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay is the Unbeatable Burger Experience, co-founded by renowned chef Bobby Flay. As a reflection of his successful 40-plus-year career in the restaurant industry, Flay has handcrafted every ingredient and menu item to create both a craveable and approachable Bobby Flay dining experience. Backed by a team of veterans in the restaurant industry, Bobby’s Burgers offers tailored support from experts to ensure that every location has the highest-quality burger experience. With nine locations currently open and several in the development pipeline, Bobby’s Burgers is launching its full-scale U.S. and international franchise expansion plan.