The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill Nears 100 Locations After Strong First Half of 2026

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The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, the award-winning fast-casual restaurant brand known for its elevated Mediterranean cuisine and hospitality-driven dining experience, announced today its notable performance through the first half of 2026, advancing franchise development, expanding its global footprint, driving strong sales growth, and earning multiple industry accolades. The brand currently has 92 restaurants open across 22 states and internationally.

During the first six months of the year, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill signed 20 domestic franchise agreements – including four multi-unit development agreements – totaling 30 future restaurants across high-growth markets, while also securing its first-ever franchise agreement in Massachusetts. Development activity included: 

Six locations for Nassau County, New York

Five locations for Dallas, Texas

Three locations for Naples, Florida

Five locations spanning Omaha, Nebraska and Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Two locations for Bakersfield, California

Single locations in Dothan, Alabama; Reading, Massachusetts; Charlotte, North Carolina; Boynton Beach, Florida; Rocklin, California; Suffolk County, New York; and additional locations in New Jersey, California and Indiana

Building on its international growth strategy, the brand also signed a master franchise agreement for Guyana and seven Caribbean countries, further expanding its global development pipeline.

“The Great Greek is entering its next chapter from a position of real strength. Our franchisees are seeing the benefits of a differentiated concept with compelling unit-level economics, while consumers continue to embrace fresh, authentic Mediterranean cuisine,” said Bob Andersen, President of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill. “The restaurant industry continues to create exciting opportunities for brands that can deliver both operational excellence and a strong value proposition, and we’re confident The Great Greek is primed to lead that next wave of growth.”

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill also opened eight new domestic restaurants during the first half of 2026, welcoming guests in Cedar City, Layton, and Hurricane, Utah; Salem, New Hampshire; Chandler, Arizona; Bolingbrook, Illinois; Epping, New Hampshire; and Las Vegas, Nevada. Internationally, the brand opened its first restaurants in Australia and Egypt while continuing its expansion in Canada with an additional location. With these openings and a strong development pipeline, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill remains on track to surpass 100 locations open and operating by the end of 2026, marking another milestone during its 15th anniversary year.

Operational performance remained equally strong. Through the first half of the year, the brand saw increases in both same-store sales and same-store transactions for its franchised restaurants, reflecting continued consumer demand for its fresh Mediterranean menu and differentiated dining experience.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill also continued investing in digital convenience and menu innovation. The brand launched its new mobile app, providing guests with an enhanced ordering experience and expanded loyalty capabilities. In addition, its limited-time Seared Tuna Salad generated more than 2,500 transactions, demonstrating guests’ enthusiasm for premium seasonal offerings.

The brand’s strong positioning and sustained momentum earned its placement with several prestigious industry accolades. The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill was recognized as a Fast & Serious brand by Franchise Times for the second consecutive year, and it earned a spot on Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers list for the fourth year in a row. The brand was also named as one of the top three Emerging Restaurant Chains in the U.S. by Datassential and appeared on Technomic’s Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report again this year, highlighting the brand’s continued rise among the nation’s leading restaurant concepts.

“Fifteen years ago, The Great Greek was built around a simple idea: serve exceptional food with genuine hospitality. Today, that vision has evolved into an internationally recognized franchise brand with remarkable momentum,” said Ray Titus, Chairman and CEO of United Franchise Group. “The team’s disciplined growth strategy, commitment to operational excellence, and focus on best-in-class franchisee support continue to position The Great Greek as one of the most exciting restaurant franchise opportunities in the industry.”

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is a part of United Franchise Group (UFG), the global leader for entrepreneurs with four decades of franchising experience. In the first half of this year, United Franchise Group affiliated brands opened 105 new locations, signed 148 individual franchise agreements plus 7 development agreements for 19 additional locations, and granted 10 separate Master License agreements to Master Partners globally. To learn more about international franchise opportunities with The Great Greek contact Michael White, Chief Development Officer, at mwhite@ufgcorp.com.

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