Perkins lands No. 10 on Entrepreneur’s inaugural Top 10 full-service franchise brands list

# What happened Perkins Restaurant & Bakery was named one of the top 10 franchise brands in the full-service restaurant category in Entrepreneur's inaugural 2026 Top 10 Franchises in Every Industry ranking. The brand earned the No. 10 spot among full-service restaurant franchises.

# Why the recognition matters The company's news release credits three concrete strengths behind the ranking: a proven franchise model, strong consumer trust, and ongoing brand innovation. Entrepreneur's list is a new extension of its Franchise 500 coverage and aims to identify leading brands across major industry categories.

Perkins frames the recognition as validation of its position in the family-dining segment. The chain is a 65-year-old concept that promotes all-day breakfast, hearty meals and daily-baked pies across locations in the U.S. and Canada.

# Data cited in the announcement

# Where Perkins is evolving Two operational moves are given as current examples of Perkins' evolution:

• A comprehensive brand refresh that updated visual identity and customer experience across the system, intended to preserve the brand's core while appearing contemporary for guests and prospective franchisees.
• The upcoming Flagship Griddle and Go format, a fast-casual concept scheduled to launch in New Jersey in October 2026. The company positions this smaller-format concept as a way to enter dayparts and real estate footprints where traditional full-service restaurants are not feasible, while still leveraging Perkins' brand recognition.

# Ownership and development Perkins is owned by Ascent Hospitality Management. The company's chief development officer, Peter Ortiz, is quoted in the release framing longevity as a competitive edge and saying the Entrepreneur recognition aligns with internal data and franchisee sentiment.

# What this means for prospective franchisees The announcement markets Perkins as a modernized but familiar franchise option, with expanded development pathways through the Griddle and Go format. The release points prospective franchise partners to PerkinsFranchising.com for more information.

# Contact and background Perkins' media contact for the release is Brianne Barbakoff at Ink Link Marketing (brianne@inklinkmarketing.com). The brand describes itself as a family-dining destination known for all-day breakfast and fresh-baked pies, operating for more than 65 years across the U.S. and Canada.

# Bottom line Entrepreneur's Top 10 placement highlights Perkins' combination of historical footprint, favorable consumer sentiment metrics and recent investments in brand refresh and format innovation. The chain is positioning itself to attract new franchise development while testing smaller, fast-casual sites through a planned launch in October 2026.