Franchise Directory

Feel like getting slammed for breakfast? The home of the Grand Slam Breakfast, Denny's is one of the leading full-service, family-style restaurant chains in the US, with about 1,550 of its signature eateries located across the country. Its family-style restaurants are typically open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu features a variety of breakfast items (which account for the majority of company sales) along with such standard fare as hamburgers, steaks, salads, and desserts. The company owns and operates about 400 of its restaurants, while the rest are franchised or operate under licensing agreements.

Denny’s is continuing the Franchise Growth Initiative program of converting company-owned restaurants to franchises that it began in 2005. Overall, its rankings were similar to last year’s, but its financial strength ranking declined from #98 last year to #166. Still, the company boasts strong longevity (#22) and a reputation as a value-oriented place for budget-minded diners.

In 2009 Denny’s actively pursued families who still want to eat out despite the recession. However, sales suffered as Americans continued to cut back on dining out. In June 2009, the company introduced its Better for You kids’ menu, which features healthy meals and side dishes. Denny’s is also concentrating on developing new menu items and enhancing its profitability.

Last Year's AllStar Rank: 10

Full Disclosure Award
This company gets a nod for disclosing financial performance representations in Item 19 of its Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). For an explanation of why this is important, read The Importance of Item 19 in the Franchise Disclosure Document.