The $11.3 billion deal will put Dunkin' under the same roof as Inspire Brands' Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic Drive-In, and Jimmy John's chains.
When the deal closes, it will have more than 700 restaurants worldwide with annual system-wide sales exceeding $700 million.
NPC International has been dealing with “a perfect storm of problems” including coronavirus-related shutdowns, a massive debt load, and rising costs.
The company benefited from value deals and increased menu prices as it undergoes the largest construction project in its history.
Sonic is America's largest drive-in chain but has been facing intense pricing competition from bigger fast-food rivals.
The fast-food chain's stock falls 3% amid concerns it is losing ground to its rivals in the burger wars.
The Q3 revenue gain "is not bad per se, but ... it is clear that Chipotle has still not made up all of the ground it lost" after a food-safety scandal.
Deals such as McPick 2 and the Signature Crafted premium sandwich helped the chain post a 4.1% Q3 gain in U.S. same-store sales.
The deal adds Popeyes' Louisiana-style fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits to a fast-food empire that also includes Tim Hortons.
The chain "seems to be reaping the benefits of an unabashed focus on fast food products, from hot dogs to chicken fries."
The burger chain's bottom line has benefited from the sale of company-owned stores, resulting in higher franchise fees and lower costs.
The fast-food giant has attracted at least three bidders to the auction of a 20-year license to run all of its 2,200 stores in China.
