How restaurant chains operate abroad

International restaurant expansion can involve territory licensing, company operation or affiliate investment. Each assigns responsibilities for operations and development.

Starbucks in Singapore#

Starbucks’ September 27, 2017, announcement described an agreement to fully license its Singapore operations to Maxim’s Caterers. Maxim’s would receive exclusive rights to operate and develop Starbucks stores in Singapore.

Singapore was already an established Starbucks market. The brand entered in 1996 at Liat Towers and had more than 130 stores when it announced the Singapore licensing agreement.

Maxim’s relationship with Starbucks began in Hong Kong in 2000. By 2017, the partnership covered Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam and Cambodia. Starbucks described Maxim’s as an operator spanning restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops and institutional catering.

On September 30, 2026, DFI Retail Group announced a conditional agreement to assume Maxim’s interests in its Starbucks licensed business, including Singapore; completion was expected by the end of March 2027, subject to consents, antitrust clearance and internal separation.

Chipotle’s different markets#

In a September 15, 2026, release, Chipotle described a June 30, 2026, restaurant footprint including the United Kingdom, France and Germany. It said it owned and operated all its restaurants in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Chipotle’s 2025 annual filing reported 14 partner-operated restaurants in the Middle East with Alshaya Group at December 31, 2025. Chipotle defines partner-operated restaurants as businesses where it lacks a controlling financial interest and does not directly manage daily operations. The category includes third-party license or franchise arrangements and minority investments without control.

Chipotle says it trains its business partners and sets food quality, safety and guest-service requirements in their agreements. Those obligations accompany partner operation even though Chipotle does not directly control the restaurants. Company operation in Europe and partner operation elsewhere can therefore coexist within one international network.

McDonald’s development responsibilities#

McDonald’s 2025 annual filing distinguishes conventional franchises, developmental licenses and affiliates. It says the appropriate structure for a restaurant, trading area or country depends partly on available entrepreneurs’ experience and financial resources, alongside the local environment for property ownership and franchising.

Under developmental-license and affiliate arrangements, licensees operate and manage their businesses, provide capital including the real estate interest, and develop and open restaurants. McDonald’s generally supplies no restaurant capital under these arrangements. It receives sales-based royalties and generally initial fees for new restaurants or licenses.

Affiliate arrangements add an equity relationship. McDonald’s identifies China and Japan as the principal foreign markets using this structure, in which it holds an investment and records its share of net results. An ownership interest in an affiliate thus differs from directly operating its restaurants. McDonald’s also runs restaurants itself.