Minnie Bird Signs 20-Unit Franchise Agreement with DiPasqua Brands to Expand into Orlando and Tampa

July 23, 2026 // FranchisePR.com // — Minnie Bird today announced a 20-unit franchise development agreement with DiPasqua Brands, the largest Subway franchisee in Central Florida. Under the agreement, the DiPasqua organization will develop 20 Minnie Bird restaurants across the Orlando and Tampa markets, with the first locations to open in 2027.

It is Minnie Bird’s first multi-unit development agreement and its largest franchise commitment to date, and it marks the brand’s entry into Florida.

The deal follows very strong early operating results at Minnie Bird’s company-owned restaurants. The brand’s flagship in Schaumburg, Illinois generated more than $2.3 million in gross sales in 2025 from approximately 2,100 square feet — the kind of unit performance the company points to as it expands through franchising.

“Signing a 20-unit agreement with an operator of DiPasqua’s caliber, this early in our franchising, is a real signal for the brand. We built Minnie Bird to travel — strong unit economics, a small footprint, and a guest experience people come back for. This agreement takes us into one of the most competitive restaurant markets in the country with a partner who knows how to operate at scale.” said David Sloan, co-founder and Managing Partner of Venture Kitchen.

Founded in 1977, DiPasqua Brands is one of the oldest and largest franchise groups in the Subway system, operating 110 restaurants across Florida. The family-owned company’s agreement with Minnie Bird marks its expansion into an emerging brand.

“We’ve been building restaurants in Florida for more than four decades, and we’re selective about what we take on. Minnie Bird stood out — the food is excellent, the operation is simple to run, and there’s real appetite for something different in the chicken category. We think it will connect with guests in Orlando and Tampa, and we’re glad to be the ones to bring it here.” said Pete DiPasqua of DiPasqua Brands.

The Florida agreement is Minnie Bird’s second signed franchise deal. Its first, with a multi-unit Crumbl Cookies operator, will bring a Minnie Bird to Crystal Lake, Illinois later this year — the brand’s first drive-thru restaurant.

The agreement comes as Minnie Bird builds its franchise development function under Julie Price, CFE, who joined the company as Senior Vice President of Franchise Development. Price leads franchise development, operator recruitment, and market planning as the brand grows through both franchise and company-owned development.

“A multi-unit agreement of this size, in a market like Florida, reflects the kind of interest we’re seeing from experienced operators. Minnie Bird is entering franchising with a proven product, a distinct guest experience, and meaningful whitespace across the country.” said Price.

“From the first restaurant, guests connected with what we’re doing — premium chicken, dirty sodas, and free soft-serve with every meal. Working with a Florida operator like DiPasqua to bring that to a new part of the country is exactly the kind of growth we set out to build.” said Sean Thomas, Co-Founder of Minnie Bird.

Alongside its franchise expansion, Minnie Bird continues to grow its company-owned footprint. The brand recently announced a new corporate restaurant in Glenview, Illinois, joining its locations in Schaumburg, Oak Brook, and Naperville. The company plans to keep developing through both franchise and company-owned restaurants as it evaluates additional markets in Illinois, Florida, and beyond.

SOURCE Minnie Bird