After a successful exhibition at Franchise Expo South in Florida earlier this year, Glasgow-based, Berlin-inspired Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) brand Doner Shack, which also has branches in Leeds and Manchester, has announced it is relocating its headquarters to Miami.
Founders Sanj Sanghera and Laura Bruce say the move to Miami is a no-brainer due to the well-developed franchising community in the US and growth prospects.
Confidence in emerging brands is also much higher in the US, according to co-founder Bruce: “There’s a lot of confidence in the US – it’s the most established franchise market in the world, particularly for the QSR sector,” she said. “We’re excited to operate in an environment that offers strong opportunities for growth and success, allowing our business to thrive, as opposed to dealing with constant setbacks we’ve seen in the UK since March 2020.”
Being a part of the International Franchise Association (IFA) is also set to provide Doner Shack with significant opportunities to strengthen its presence in the global franchising community. Membership in the IFA not only enhances the brand’s credibility but also connects Doner Shack with a vast network of industry leaders, franchise professionals and franchisee prospects.
“I spoke to franchisees in the US with over 1,000 restaurants – far surpassing the scale of most major brands in the UK. The business environment here is incredibly dynamic, with highly motivated individuals, ample opportunities to secure prime locations, and vast areas available for development. It’s a much better environment for us as a business,” said Sanghera.
By establishing itself in Florida, Doner Shack hopes to cater not only caters to the millions of tourists that visit each year, but also strategically position itself to build a global customer base. The location of the new HQ will also allow the team to meet people for discovery days, providing prospects with the opportunity to visit multiple Doner Shack franchisees operating restaurants nearby.
“One of the main reasons we chose the US, and ultimately Miami, is the strength of its business environment. Miami provides a solid foundation for growth, with access to a broad customer base, an established franchising network, and excellent opportunities to scale our operations,” added Bruce.
Following the UK government’s recent 2025 budget announcement, rising costs are expected to put pressure on businesses, making it much harder for hospitality businesses to expand their network.
Sanghera also highlighted the UK tax regime as a driving factor in the move: “In Europe, most hospitality businesses benefit from a VAT sales tax of 10% or less, while in the UK, we face a rate of 20%. Combined with rising costs during the inflationary period of 2023, this has made operations increasingly challenging,” he said. “Additional pressures, such as higher employer national insurance contributions and the end of pandemic-level business rates relief, doesn’t build great confidence and has further compounded the strain. By contrast, the US offers a much more supportive environment for businesses, and we’re already feeling more optimistic about the opportunities here.”
