Greg Flynn, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Flynn Group LP

The IFA Hall of Fame Award is the association’s most prestigious and oldest award presented to an IFA member who has contributed significantly to the advancement of franchising and the franchising community. The 2025 recipient is Greg Flynn, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Flynn Group LP.

When I founded Flynn Group in 1999, I could never have predicted just how far this journey would take us. What began as a bold leap of faith has grown into the largest franchise operation in the world, with more than 2,900 Applebee’s, Taco Bell, Panera, Arby’s, Pizza Hut, Wendy’s, and Planet Fitness locations across 44 states and now, three countries. Today, our brands generate over $5 billion in annual sales and create meaningful work for more than 78,000 people. To lead this organization is not just a responsibility — it is the privilege of my lifetime.

Franchising, to me, represents one of the most powerful engines of opportunity ever created. It is a business model rooted in partnership, aspiration, and shared success. At Flynn Group, we’ve always placed two priorities above all else: attracting and retaining exceptional people and providing world-class support for our operators. Our real differentiator — the secret sauce that fuels our culture — is the deep trust and empowerment we extend to our teams. When people feel ownership, when they are encouraged to lead, innovate, and grow, excellence naturally follows.

While expansion is a natural indicator of success, we’ve built Flynn Group on a different belief: greatness isn’t defined by getting bigger, but by getting better. That mindset of continuous improvement, relentless accountability, and a commitment to raising the bar, anchors our organization. It strengthens our partnerships, sharpens our focus on daily operations, and ensures that we never lose sight of the “own it” mentality that drives high-performing teams.

I’ve often said that our 27‑year story reads like a book, and now we’re writing chapter four. Chapter one began with Applebee’s — eight locations and a vision that demanded grit, patience, and belief. Chapter two expanded our portfolio into brands that reflected the broader restaurant experience, welcoming Taco Bell, Arby’s, Panera, Pizza Hut, and Wendy’s. Chapter three took us beyond restaurants and beyond borders, driving growth into adjacent categories and international markets, including Australia and New Zealand.

Chapter three is defined not only by scale, but by potential with our new Flynn Growth division which will focus on partnering with concepts on the verge of exponential growth. Through Flynn Growth, we’re channeling nearly three decades of experience into emerging brands like 7‑Brew, which we’ve committed to developing 160 new locations with. The possibilities ahead are limitless, and we’re energized by the opportunity to help shape what their next chapters can become.

Receiving the Hall of Fame Award from the International Franchise Association is deeply humbling. It is one of the most meaningful honors in our industry, but I see it primarily as a testament to the thousands of people who have helped build Flynn Group over the years. My work has always been about people — those who work beside us, partner with us, and place their trust in us.

Building organizations that empower individuals, strengthen communities, and expand opportunity remains my driving purpose. As we continue writing this next chapter, that mission will stay at the center of everything we do.