Restaurant Brands International Limited Partnership operates as a quick service restaurant (QSR) company worldwide. The company is a subsidiary of Restaurant Brands International Inc.
The company operates in more than 120 countries and territories as of December 31, 2024. The company owns and franchises four iconic brands, Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs. The company’s four iconic brands have complementary daypart mixes and product platforms that benefit from global scale a...
Restaurant Brands International Limited Partnership operates as a quick service restaurant (QSR) company worldwide. The company is a subsidiary of Restaurant Brands International Inc.
The company operates in more than 120 countries and territories as of December 31, 2024. The company owns and franchises four iconic brands, Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs. The company’s four iconic brands have complementary daypart mixes and product platforms that benefit from global scale and sharing of best practices to optimize costs while preserving the independence and rich heritage of each brand.
Tim Hortons – Tim Hortons is one of the largest coffee and baked goods restaurant chains in North America and the largest in Canada as measured by total number of restaurants. Tim Hortons restaurants also serve a variety of hot and cold specialty beverages alongside delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings including sandwiches, wraps, flatbread pizzas, and more.
Burger King – Burger King is the world’s second largest quick service hamburger restaurant chain, as measured by total number of restaurants, and is Home of the Whopper. Burger King restaurants feature flame-grilled hamburgers, chicken and other specialty sandwiches.
Popeyes – Popeyes is the world’s second largest quick service chicken concept, as measured by total number of restaurants, and delivers guests a unique ‘Louisiana’ style menu featuring fried bone-in chicken, chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, wings, fried shrimp and regional items.
Firehouse Subs – Firehouse Subs is a leading player in the sandwich category in North America delivering guests hot and hearty subs piled high with quality steamed meats and cheese as well as chopped salads, chili, soups, soft drinks, and other sides.
Business Strategy
The company’s focus is centered on delivering three core pillars – quality, service and convenience through various strategies, including consistently serving its guests high-quality food and beverages, to enhance the guest experience through comprehensive training programs, modernized restaurant operations that leverage innovative technology and digital solutions, and reimaged restaurants that improve both aesthetics and operational efficiency, to increase convenience for the company’s guests by expanding its global footprint through accelerated net restaurant growth, renovating existing restaurants, and strengthening drive-thru and delivery channels.
Segments
The company’s acquisition of Carrols Restaurant Group Inc. (‘the Carrols Acquisition’) and Popeyes China (‘PLK China’) (‘the PLK China Acquisition’), it established a new segment.
The company operates through six segments: Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Firehouse Subs, International, and Restaurant Holdings.
Tim Hortons – operations of the company’s Tim Hortons brand in Canada and the U.S. (‘TH’);
Burger King – operations of the company’s Burger King brand in the U.S. and Canada, excluding results of Burger King restaurants acquired as part of the Carrols Acquisition (‘BK’);
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen – operations of the company’s Popeyes brand in the U.S. and Canada, including the Popeyes restaurants acquired as part of the Carrols Acquisition (‘PLK’);
Firehouse Subs – operations of the company’s Firehouse Subs brand in the U.S. and Canada (‘FHS’);
International – operations of each of the company’s brands outside the U.S. and Canada, excluding results of PLK China and Firehouse Subs Brazil (‘FHS Brazil’) restaurants (‘INTL’); and
Restaurant Holdings – operations of Burger King restaurants acquired as part of the Carrols Acquisition and the operations of PLK China and FHS Brazil restaurants (‘RH’).
Franchise Restaurant Leases
As of December 31, 2024, the company leased or subleased approximately 4,600 properties, primarily to TH and BK franchisees.
Advertising and Promotions
Franchise restaurants and company restaurants are required to utilize a percentage of their respective restaurants’ sales for advertising programs with the goal of increasing sales and enhancing the reputation of the brands. Advertising fund contributions, which are used to pay for expenses relating to marketing, advertising, and promotion, including market research, production, advertising costs, sales promotions, social media campaigns, technology initiatives and other related support functions for the respective brands. The company manages the advertising funds for each of its brands in the U.S. and Canada. Conversely, while the company manages ad funds in a few international markets, most international advertising funds are franchisee-managed, including those in master franchised markets. As part of the company’s global marketing strategy, it provides franchisees with advertising support and guidance to deliver a consistent global brand message.
Operations Support
The company’s operations strategy is designed to deliver best-in-class restaurant operations by its franchisees and to improve friendliness, cleanliness, speed of service and overall guest satisfaction. Each of the company’s brands has uniform operating standards and specifications relating to product quality, cleanliness and maintenance, and restaurants are subject to periodic inspection for compliance. In addition, the company’s restaurants are required to be operated in accordance with quality assurance and health standards that each brand has established, as well as standards set by applicable governmental laws, regulations, and health authority guidelines. The company provides additional support for franchisees through its brand field teams.
Manufacturing, Supply and Distribution
As of December 31, 2024, BK used seven distributors in the U.S., four of which serviced approximately 92% of BK restaurants and PLK uses eight broadline distributors in the U.S. of which four serviced approximately 88% of PLK restaurants, with additional distributors for poultry.
In 2023, Burger King entered a new long-term exclusive contract with The Coca-Cola Company to supply BK restaurants with certain of their products for ten years. The contract retains the remaining volume obligation under the prior agreement for restaurants in the U.S. to purchase a specified number of gallons of soft drink syrup. Burger King also has a volume commitment agreement with Dr. Pepper/Snapple, Inc.
As of December 31, 2024, FHS used seven distributors in the U.S., three of which serviced approximately 87% of the FHS restaurants, and one distributor services FHS restaurants in Canada.
Seasonal Operations
The company’s restaurant sales are typically higher in the spring and summer months when the weather is warmer and typically lowest during the winter months.
Trademark
Tim Hortons is a trademark of Tim Hortons Canadian IP Holdings Corporation. Burger King, Whopper and BK are trademarks of Burger King Company LLC. Popeyes and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen are trademarks of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. Firehouse Subs is a trademark of FRG, LLC.
History
The company was founded in 1954. The company was incorporated in 2014. The company was formerly known as New Red Canada Limited Partnership and changed its name to Restaurant Brands International Limited Partnership in December 2014.