Inspire Brands files confidential IPO into a market wary of multi-concept restaurant roll-ups

The Roark Capital-backed owner of Dunkin', Arby's, Sonic and Buffalo Wild Wings is testing public markets after its $11.3B Dunkin' deal, but uneven brand performance—Dunkin' +6% and Jimmy John's +4.5% versus Arby's -1.2% and Sonic -2.7%—lands amid investor skepticism toward sprawling restaurant portfolios.

— Filed Fri, 15 May, 2026, 07:20 IST · Source Restaurant Business · Updated

Inspire Brands, the Roark Capital-backed multi-brand restaurant operator behind Dunkin', Arby's, Sonic and Buffalo Wild Wings, has confidentially filed for an IPO amid investor skepticism toward multi-concept restaurant portfolios with uneven brand performance.