The current franchise holder for Denny’s in the UK has appointed FRP Corporate Finance to assess potential partners to acquire the rights of the restaurant brand on these shores.
A proof-of-concept restaurant at Parc Tawe in Swansea, Wales, has operated since 2017 and is being marketed as part of the sale process.
FRP says the Swansea site has generated ‘strong margins’, serving more than 13,500 dine-in orders each year, and provides the basis for franchise investors to bring the Denny’s brand to city centres, airports, service stations and drive-thru sites across the UK.
“Denny’s is one of the most iconic names in global casual dining, with a proven model that combines strong consumer appeal, affordable family dining and scalable unit economics,” says Alex Patey, director at FRP Corporate Finance.
“The Swansea diner has already demonstrated the household brand’s potential in the UK, and with clear opportunities across high streets, airports, service stations and drive-thru sites – as well as to introduce new models including self-service – we expect strong interest from ambitious operators looking to bring the Denny’s experience to more UK consumers in a segment where this type of offering has been lacking for many years."
Denny’s was originally founded in 1953 as a donut stand in Lakewood, California, and has grown to one of the largest full-service family restaurant chains in the US.
The diner brand has almost 1,500 sites globally including around 1,300 in the US.