Breakfast, brunch and lunch franchise Eggs Up Grill has reached a major growth milestone, opening its 110th restaurant and becoming the largest actively franchising breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant brand in the United States, according to the company. The milestone follows the opening of its newest restaurant in Spears Creek, South Carolina, capping a strong second quarter marked by continued franchise development and sustained same-store sales growth.
The company reported its 22nd consecutive quarter of positive same-restaurant sales growth, opened four new restaurants during the quarter and awarded eight new franchise agreements, expanding its development pipeline to more than 200 restaurants open and in development, including over 90 locations currently under development.
“Our momentum continues to validate the strength of the Eggs Up Grill model,” said Ricky Richardson, Chief Executive Officer of Eggs Up Grill. “Reaching 110 restaurants and becoming the largest actively franchising brand in our category is a significant milestone, but it’s really a reflection of the strength of our franchise partners, our restaurant teams and the communities that continue to embrace Eggs Up Grill. We’re seeing strong demand from experienced operators, both new and existing, who recognize the long-term opportunity within the breakfast franchise segment, and we’re committed to growing with the right partners in the right markets.”
Founded in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, Eggs Up Grill has evolved from a regional breakfast concept into one of the fastest-growing daytime restaurant franchises in the U.S. Since 2021, the brand has expanded its footprint by approximately 30% annually, driven by a franchise-first growth strategy focused on experienced multi-unit operators.
The concept operates exclusively during breakfast and lunch hours, typically from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering franchisees a simplified operating model with lower labour complexity, improved scheduling and a stronger work-life balance compared with traditional full-service restaurant concepts.
The second quarter also highlighted growing confidence among existing franchisees. Metz Group opened its first Eggs Up Grill restaurant in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, launching a broader multi-unit partnership with the brand. Existing franchisee Ken Bates committed to developing five additional restaurants, while franchisee Uber Quezada signed for a second location less than a year after opening his first restaurant in December 2025. Today, more than 60% of Eggs UpGrill franchiseeseither own or are developing multiple restaurants, reflecting increasing confidence in the brand’s unit economics.
Financial performance has continued to strengthen alongside expansion. The company reported that Average Unit Volume (AUV) increased 8.1% year over year, while AUV has grown 31% over the past five years, supported by disciplined cost management and consistent same-store sales growth.
Kayla Money, Chief Financial Officer, said: “With a 31% increase in average unit volume over the last five years, disciplined cost management and sustained same-store sales growth are reinforcing the long-term strength of our model. As we continue to scale, our focus remains on supporting franchisees with the tools they need to drive profitability while maintaining the everyday value our guests expect.”
Beyond restaurant growth, Eggs Up Grill has continued to gain industry recognition in 2026. During the quarter, the brand ranked No. 7 on Entrepreneur’s Top 10 Full-Service Restaurant Franchises, entered Technomic’s Top 500 Restaurant Chains at No. 289, and earned a place on the Inc. 5000 list, further underscoring its rising profile in the U.S. franchise sector.
With more than 90 restaurants in development and an expanding pipeline of experienced franchise operators, Eggs Up Grill is well positioned to continue its measured expansion across the United States, strengthening its presence in the fast-growing breakfast, brunch and lunch segment.
