1851

China is a complex and diverse market where consumers are particularly brand-conscious. And while its market presents huge commercial opportunities for franchise brands, entry into China poses its own unique set of localization challenges.There’s no doubt that the companies that entered the Chinese market planned their expansion carefully. Here are some of the top franchise brands growing in China today.<h4><a href="https://sylvanfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china-2716532" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sylvan Learning*</a></h4><ul><li>Total Units: 750+</li><li>Units in China: 3</li></ul>750-plus unit supplemental education brand Sylvan Learning has become the leading provider of personal learning for students in grades K-12, and its mission is to inspire students to succeed both in school and in life. The brand began in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland,_Oregon?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china-2716532" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Portland, Oregon</a> in 1979 at the Sylvan Hill Medical Center Building and was founded by former school teacher W. Berry Fowler.Now, with more than 40 years of experience providing education programs, Sylvan has expanded to several countries, including Guam, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and China. In 2018, the brand announced a <a href="https://1851franchise.com/sylvanlearning/sylvan-learning-continues-international-expansion-efforts-with-plans-to-develop-200-locations-across-china-2706285#stories">partnership with Sylvan China</a>, an organization headed by Mr. Bo Jiang, to expand across China with the development of 200 locations over the next 10 years.“There is a demand for Sylvan Learning to open locations across China and to provide our premium programs and personalized education to children across the country,” said <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-mcauliffe-b309152a/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china-2716532" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">John McAuliffe</a>, Sylvan Learning’s CEO. “With our recent openings in Vietnam and the Middle East, China is a terrific next step in our international development initiative.”<h4><a href="https://www.popeyes.com/development?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china-2716532" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Popeyes</a></h4><ul><li>Total Units: 3,300</li><li>Current Units in China: 9</li></ul>Founded in 1972 in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Popeyes brand has expanded to 3,300 restaurants in the United States and around the world over the last 49 years. Rooted in Cajun recipes, the brand joined the Chicken Sandwich Wars with its <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-popeyes-chicken-sandwich-returns-to-restaurants-nationwide-this-sunday-november-3rd-300946047.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china-2716532" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">2019 launch</a> of the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich.<a href="https://tabfoods.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china-2716532" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TFI TAB Food Investments</a>, the franchisee for Popeyes in China, currently owns nine Popeyes restaurants in China. On May 15th, 2020, TFI TAB Food Investments opened its first flagship Popeyes restaurant in Shanghai, China with an elevated store design, but still rooted in the brand’s Louisiana heritage, leveraging warm woods and neons inspired by New Orleans’ Bourbon Street.<figure class="image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/wl1jNKyqiZ-6KWceDUbqtOcab6L0D0sMJnBX5tuDhAroeqpeiCkECOtcyAFqcpuQfCfZVba6hQ31CT9W0PUAhPMcfPkfiZJNGXMHskkyEk6t9vaX3Pg1vpijSWe_iefUOshDM-8H=s0"><figcaption>Courtesy of The Modern Popeyes® Renaissance Release</figcaption></figure>“China represents a big opportunity for our brand, and it is a market where Popeyes has a very limited presence,” said <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/leandro-gasparin/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china-2716532" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Leandro Gasparin</a>, vice president of franchise operations for the brand. “We're very excited to grow the Popeyes brand in the Chinese market in the years ahead.”<h4><a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china-2716532" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Right at Home*</a></h4><ul><li>Total Units: 600+</li></ul>Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers in-home care to seniors and adults with disabilities who want to live independently. Right at Home’s global office is based in Omaha, Nebraska, with more than 600 franchise locations in the U.S. and seven other countries.In 2011, Right at Home entered the Chinese market through a master franchise license agreement with an entrepreneurial group in Beijing. The first Right at Home office opened June 9 in Beijing.“This agreement and what it represents is incredibly exciting,” acknowledged <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/allenhager/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china-2716532" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Allen Hager</a>, Right at Home’s founder, in a <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110609005125/en/Right-at-Home%C2%AE-International-Opens-First-U.S.-Master-Franchise-for-In-Home-Senior-Care-Services-in-China?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china-2716532" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">press release</a>. “The Chinese have very strong filial piety, or respect, for their parents, so there is a cultural predisposition toward caring for the elderly. People in China are also living longer and prefer to stay in their homes rather than move into an institutional environment, so there’s an increasing demand for professional in-home elderly care assistance.”<h4><a href="https://parisbaguettefamily.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china-2716532" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Paris Baguette*</a></h4><ul><li>Total Units: 4,000+</li><li>Units in China: 300+</li></ul>With more than 4,000 stores worldwide, Paris Baguette is an internationally beloved bakery cafe offering demonstrations of its skilled bakers, cakers and baristas illustrating their expertise live. The brand, a subsidiary of the <a href="http://www.spc.co.kr/eng?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china-2716532" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SPC Group</a>, was born from a love of bread and a passion for quality in 1988 and specializes in French-inspired goods.As the largest bakery chain in South Korea, Paris Baguette has also thrived in other East Asian countries like China. It has been expanding its presence in mainland China since 2004 and recently completed a bread factory in China to meet growing demand in the world's second-largest market."China's bakery market has big potential as its annual size reaches an estimated 4.4 trillion won (the national currency ofSouth Korea) [approximately 3.9 million USD]," said <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/hur-young-in/?sh=4bd35f9c213a&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china-2716532" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hur Young-in</a>, a SPC Group chairman, in <a href="http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190328000810&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china-2716532#:~:text=Paris%20Baguette%20completes%20bread%20factory%20in%20China&amp;text=BEIJING%20%2D%2D%20Paris%20Baguette%2C%20the,the%20world's%20second%2Dlargest%20market." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Korea Herald</a>.<h4><a href="https://www.kfc.com/franchising?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china-2716532" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">KFC</a></h4><ul><li>Total Units: 25,000+</li><li>Units in China: 6,000+</li></ul>Kentucky Fried Chicken was the brainchild of a man named Harland Sanders, who cooked up simple country dishes at a roadside gas station. Now, he’s the instantly recognizable face of the fried chicken franchise giant.KFC was the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-popular-fast-food-chain-in-china-kfc-photos-2018-4?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china-2716532#:~:text=KFC%20was%20the%20first%20American,first%20China%20branch%20in%201987.&amp;text=As%20of%202016%2C%20KFC%20still,only%20has%20around%202%2C500%20restaurants." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">first American fast food chain</a> to launch in China and now holds the title of the most popular fast food chain in the country.&nbsp;The brand believes its success in China was partly due to its catering to Chinese tastes, serving a variety of local dishes like egg tarts and congee (rice porridge) along with its signature fried chicken.

5 Franchise Brands Growing in China

1851 Franchise

China’s explosive growth has made it home to some of the world’s fastest-growing franchise brands. From in-home senior care services to fried chicken giants, here are five brands seeing success in China.

5-franchise-brands-growing-in-china

Home Halo

Home Halo’s "Frank" Method: Coaching Franchisees to Greatness

home-halos-frank-method-coaching-franchisees-to-greatness

home-halo-dan-deak-personal-journey-headshot

Dan Deak's Personal Journey: From Caring Son to Home Halo CEO

dan-deaks-personal-journey-from-caring-son-to-home-halo-ceo

10 Reasons Why You Should Invest in a Home Halo Franchise

10-reasons-why-you-should-invest-in-a-home-halo-franchise

home-halo-consumer-positioning-article-image

Home Halo: Thoughtful Care and Essential Support for Seniors and Veterans

home-halo-thoughtful-care-and-essential-support-for-seniors-and-veterans

home-halo-franchise-positioning-article-image

Home Halo’s Formula for Compassionate Home Care: A Franchise Opportunity Built on Veteran and Senior Support

home-halos-formula-for-compassionate-home-care-a-franchise-opportunity-built-on-veteran-and-senior-support

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Dave’s Hot Chicken Sold to Roark Capital in $1 Billion Deal to Fuel Global Expansion

daves-hot-chicken-sold-to-roark-capital-in-1-billion-deal-to-fuel-global-expansion

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises - 1851 Franchise

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises

homebuyers-keep-buying-and-thats-good-news-for-home-service-franchises

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers - 1851 Franchise

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers

ai-unemployment-impact-white-collar-job-loss

How To Sell Just One Franchise: What You’ll Learn at FranCamp NJ 2025

how-to-sell-just-one-franchise-what-youll-learn-at-francamp-nj-2025

House Passes Tax Relief Package With Key Benefits for Small Businesses and Franchises

house-passes-small-business-tax-relief-bill-2025

McDonald’s To Hire 375,000 Workers as It Prepares for Major U.S. Expansion

mcdonalds-to-hire-375000-workers-as-it-prepares-for-major-us-expansion

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

How Car Sales Taught Buddy's Home Furnishings’ Mitchell Lee the Secrets of Franchise Development

how-car-sales-taught-buddys-home-furnishings-mitchell-lee-the-secrets-of-franchise-development

What You Need To Know About Low-Cost Franchise Opportunities

what-you-need-to-know-about-low-cost-franchise-opportunities

Sola Salons Franchisee Grows Salon Freedom Into a Multi-State Powerhouse 

sola-salons-franchisee-grows-salon-freedom-into-a-multi-state-powerhouse

Dan Yangas Brings Family Flooring Legacy Full Circle With Footprints Floors Franchise in Naperville 

Dan Yangas Brings Family Flooring Legacy Full Circle With Footprints Floors Franchise in Naperville, Illinois

dan-yangas-brings-family-flooring-legacy-full-circle-with-footprints-floors-franchise-in-naperville-illinois

busy-bee-jumpers-consumer-positioning-image-kids-jumping-bounce-house

Delivering Fun With a Smile: How Busy Bee Jumpers Earns 5-Star Raves From Families Across New England

busy-bee-jumpers-party-rentals

5 Franchise Brands Growing in China

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS