Jimmy John’s, Buffalo Wild Wings Go to open co-branded location
Jimmy John's and Buffalo Wild Wings launch a co-branded location in Florida, marking a new trend in franchise partnerships.
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Jimmy John's and Buffalo Wild Wings are opening their first co-branded location in Palmetto, Florida, operated by Quality Foods Restaurant Group. This joint venture will feature both menus in one location, aimed at capitalizing on the area's customer base during game days. Each brand will maintain separate kitchens, with Jimmy John's also offering a drive-thru service.
Why It Matters
This co-branding initiative may enhance unit economics for franchisees by reducing development costs and leveraging customer traffic across both brands. Additionally, this trend could compress available territories as interest grows in similar dual-brand opportunities.
Buffalo Wild Wings Go and Jimmy John’s are set to open their first co-branded location in Palmetto, Florida, on August 18. This dual-brand restaurant will feature a shared entrance and seating, allowing customers to order from both the Buffalo Wild Wings Go and Jimmy John’s menus conveniently. The establishment is located in fast-growing Manatee County, a market characterized as “built around game days,” benefiting from its proximity to high school football events and Pittsburgh Pirates spring training.
The operational responsibilities fall to Quality Foods Restaurant Group, which currently operates three Buffalo Wild Wings in Florida. Franchisee Kenther Ramos emphasized the uniqueness of this concept, stating, “We’re giving this community something no one else has: two crave-worthy menus, one location and no reason to ever choose between them.” The co-branded restaurant is indicative of Inspire Brands' broader strategy to maximize franchisee revenue potential through multi-brand offerings.
Buffalo Wild Wings Go, a quick-service variant of Buffalo Wild Wings, concluded 2025 with 219 locations, indicating its rapid expansion in the quick-service segment. Conversely, Jimmy John’s, with over 2,800 locations worldwide, focuses on fresh sandwiches and robust pickup and delivery services, historically employing its own delivery drivers.
Inspire Brands, headquartered in Atlanta and also owning brands like Dunkin’, Arby’s, and Sonic, has actively pursued co-branding strategies to boost sales while minimizing development costs. This trend within the franchise sector has been gaining traction, with various companies, including Dine Brands and MTY Food Group, exploring similar initiatives.
The co-branded restaurant’s opening in Palmetto represents a strategic move for both brands to leverage location advantages in a burgeoning market and meet diverse consumer demands in what could lead to increased profitability. The continued interest in co-branding may signal a shift in how quick-service franchises approach market expansion and customer engagement strategies. How effectively this location performs could influence Inspire Brands' future co-branding endeavors.
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