Sphera Franchise Group, the largest food service group in Romania, estimates a positive evolution of its main financial indicators in 2026, supported by network expansion and the performance of existing restaurants.
The company targets restaurant sales of over RON 1.69 billion, marking a 7.6 percent increase compared to the previous year. This growth is supported both by higher sales in comparable restaurants and by the contribution of new units. At the same time, the Group anticipates improved profitability, with an estimated EBITDA (excluding IFRS 16 impact) of RON 160 million (+8.2 percent) and a net profit of RON 72.7 million, up by 1.1 percent.
“We have built the 2026 budget prudently, anchored in current economic realities and considering this year’s outlook, marked by uncertainties generated by the geopolitical context, inflationary pressures, and rising costs for energy, raw materials, and fuel. At the same time, we remain confident in our growth potential, we are accelerating investments compared to last year and we are maintaining our ambitions to expand the network and further develop recently acquired brands”, said Călin Ionescu, CEO, Sphera Franchise Group.
In 2026, Sphera will accelerate investments and allocate approximately RON 130 million for development. Expansion plans include the opening of 21 new restaurants: 11 in Romania (8 KFC, 2 Taco Bell, and 1 Hard Rock Cafe), 2 in the Republic of Moldova (KFC and Taco Bell), and 8 in Italy (3 KFC and 5 Cioccolatitaliani). At the same time, the Group will continue investing in the remodeling of existing restaurants and in digitalization, through the implementation of self-ordering kiosk solutions.
The 2026 budget has been approved by the Board of Directors and will be submitted for approval at the General Meeting of Shareholders on 29th of April 2026. The budget is based on a scenario of normal business operations and includes an estimated average inflation rate of approximately 6 percent for next year.