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The nearly 100-unit fast-casual restaurant brand earned national recognition after a year of franchise expansion, menu innovation, and strategic investments in technology and the guest experience
Jackson, MS (RestaurantNews.com) Newk’s Eatery, the premium fast-casual restaurant brand known for its freshly prepared sandwiches, salads, soups and pizzas, has earned the No. 244 spot on the 2026 Franchise Times Top 400 list, an annual ranking of the largest U.S.-based franchise systems by global systemwide sales.
The ranking comes as the overall franchise industry continues to show resilience amid economic uncertainty. According to Franchise Times, the 400 largest U.S.-based franchise systems generated $784 billion in global sales in 2025. That was a 4.3% increase over the previous year.
“Landing on the Franchise Times Top 400 is a credit to our franchisees and restaurant teams, who show up every day and make our food from scratch the right way,” said Chris Elliott, CEO of Newk’s Eatery and parent company FSC Franchise Co. “Fast casual is a crowded category, and guests have plenty of choices. Seeing Newk’s ranked among the largest franchise systems in the country tells us that our focus on quality and hospitality is paying off where it matters most, in our restaurants.”
Founded in 2004, Newk’s Eatery has become a differentiated player in the booming fast-casual restaurant industry through its commitment to fresh ingredients, scratch-made meals and a guest experience that combines quality with convenience. The brand continues to expand its footprint and currently operates nearly 100 locations nationwide.
The Franchise Times Top 400 is compiled through an extensive annual research process that evaluates franchise systems based primarily on global systemwide sales. The ranking incorporates company-reported data, franchise disclosure documents and other financial information to provide a comprehensive look at the performance of the largest franchise brands.
“Our franchisees told us what they needed to run better restaurants, and we listened,” Elliott said. “We put more into training, upgraded the tools our teams use every day and gave guests some new reasons to come back. You can see it in places like Wichita, where we just opened our second restaurant. Now we want more experienced operators who believe in scratch cooking the way we do, because there are a lot of towns that still don’t have a Newk’s.”
In addition to its Franchise Times Top 400 recognition, Newk’s was named No. 25 on the 2026 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers list.
Looking ahead, Newk’s remains focused on accelerating franchise development, strengthening relationships with existing operators and introducing its fresh, made-from-scratch dining experience to new communities nationwide.
About Newk’s Eatery
Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, Newk’s Eatery is a fast-casual restaurant brand known for its signature hospitality and scratch-made meals. With nearly 100 locations across 12 states, Newk’s offers a diverse menu of hand-crafted salads, sandwiches, soups and pizzas – all made in-house with fresh, premium ingredients and without the use of fryers or microwaves. Guests can also enjoy convenient grab-and-go options and mobile ordering through the Newk’s app, available on Google Play and the App Store, for curbside, in-store pickup or delivery.
Newk’s has earned national recognition from Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Business and Entrepreneur and continues to be celebrated for food quality and guest loyalty. To learn more, visit Newks.com, join the Newk’s Rewards program or follow along on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X. For franchise opportunities, visit OwnANewks.com.
Contact:
Julie Maw
Mainland
209-617-6518
jmaw@hellomainland.com
