Spain’s Leading Restaurant Groups in Focus
The sector’s trajectory is laid out by a sectoral report from the Instituto Coordenadas de Gobernanza y Economía Aplicada. This study identifies the market leaders in Spain’s food service landscape, naming four top companies and naming Alberto Torrado, Gregorio Jiménez, Virginia Donado, and Luis Quintiliano as prominent figures within the industry’s Spanish food service segment.
According to the report, the hospitality sector is riding a favorable wave and is described as one of the brightest moments in the market. The UVE Data Market Horeca 2023, a barometer of the supply distribution channel, shows that organized catering grew by 8.3 percent, while the number of facilities in the independent hotel segment rose by just 0.1 percent. These indicators point to a strong performance and the likelihood of robust results by year end.
Consequently, the Instituto Coordenadas de Gobernanza y Economía Aplicada centers its analysis on Spain’s leading players, referring to them as the “Big Four.” McDonald’s, RBI, Alsea, and Restalia are cited as the largest and most influential brands, shaping market directions through the scale of their stores and their demonstrated impact on trends.
ALSEA
Alsea is described as one of the strongest international players in Spain. The group has expanded through acquisitions, notably taking control of a substantial share of the Zena Group, which includes Foster’s Hollywood and Domino’s Pizza, among other brands. In 2018, Alsea completed the purchase of Grupo Vips for 500 million euros, creating Spain’s largest restaurant group and, through Vips, gaining control of all Starbucks locations in Spain by 2030.
After pandemic losses exceeding 75 million euros, Alsea shifted to profit, recording over 80 million euros in 2022. The plan includes relaunching Olé Molé, a Mexican chain launched in 2019 that has faced integration challenges. The study notes that TGI Fridays’s future remains to be decided as it competes with Foster’s.
RBI
Restaurants Brands Iberia (RBI), owner of Burger King, Popeyes, and Tim Hortons, is also counted among the Big Four. Now under Cinven ownership, RBI became the industry’s largest operation in Spain after a 1,000 million euro deal. Cinven’s funds funded the expansion of Burger King restaurants, which Ibersol previously operated in Portugal, while RBI seeks to recover and grow new brands under its own framework. RBI has advanced to become the second-largest operator in Spain with more than 900 outlets.
The company posted a 32 percent turnover increase in 2022 versus 2021, even as it faces the challenge of a high debt load rising toward 900 million euros due to aggressive store openings. Its strategic priorities include stabilizing the Burger King operation to close 2022 positively and accelerating Popeyes, which has achieved a rapid pace with about 90 openings to date. Looking ahead, RBI also signals intentions to consider an initial public offering after recent announcements.
RESTALIA
Restalia stands as Spain’s largest organized catering group, with ownership entirely in the hands of founder José María Capitán and a portfolio including brands like 100 Montaditos and The Good Burger. The 2021 annual accounts show a full recovery following the pandemic, with turnover rising by 64 percent from 2020 and a positive outlook suggesting continued momentum in 2022 and 2023. The Instituto Coordenadas notes that Restalia’s early-year performance supports expectations for international expansion, aiming to open about 100 new units and pushing international activity to represent roughly 30 percent of total business by 2030.
MC DONALD’S
McDonald’s is highlighted for maintaining a strong commitment to Spain, choosing a franchise-driven growth model rather than a pure corporate expansion approach. The company operates more than 580 stores and has outlined plans, including a 250 million euro investment in 2025 to add around 125 new locations and create over 6,000 jobs in Spain. The Institute regards McDonald’s as one of the most stable names in the Spanish market, though it notes that its growth pace has slowed relative to Burger King’s accelerated expansion.
Overall, the study portrays a sector enjoying resilience and ongoing expansion, with the Big Four setting the market’s tempo and the broader industry benefiting from a favorable macro environment. [Citation: Instituto Coordenadas de Gobernanza y Economía Aplicada, sectoral report on Spain’s restaurant market].