THE growing number of new international quick service restaurant (QSR) brands expanding their presence in the Caribbean comes at a time when more locally operated firms invest billions into new locations across Jamaica.

The Church’s Texas Chicken brand returned to Jamaica in December 2025 after a two-decade hiatus, with its sights set on 10 locations over the next five years. The new location at Mall Plaza, Constant Spring Road, St Andrew, is being operated by Trinidad-based Global Brands Group of Companies, owned by Director Anthony Sabga-Aboud.

Less than four months after opening its first store at a cost of US$1 million, Church’s put out an
Instagram post asking landlords for prime locations in Kingston and Portmore to grow the brand in high-traffic areas. It is now hiring a restaurant general manager and assistant general manager for its second location at Parade Square, at the corner of King Street and South Parade, downtown, Kingston.

The move by Global Brands to build out its QSR comes against the backdrop of Prestige Holdings Limited (PHL), another Trinidad restaurant management company, opening its second TGI Fridays location in Portmore, St Catherine, in February 2026. PHL invested $255 million (TT$10.48 million) into this new location.

There have also been changes and additions in the existing QSR brands in Jamaica. The most recent change is First Order Brands Limited acquiring the assets of Convenient Brands Limited and becoming the new master franchisee for Domino’s Pizza in Jamaica. First Order Brands is owned by CEO Sean Scott and Chairman Nicholas Scott.

Sean Scott was the previous CEO of Convenient Brands (formerly Wisynco Foods Limited) up to June 2018. There are 18 locations across Jamaica with more than 200 employees.

Convenient Brands sold the operation of Wendy’s Jamaica to Gara Restaurants Limited in November 2019. Gara spent $200 million to open the 10th location in West Cumberland, Portmore, St Catherine, in mid-2026. Gara’s directors include Michelle Myers Mayne and Tina Matalon.

Restaurants of Jamaica Limited (ROJ), which is overseen by Managing Director Mark Myers, operates the KFC and Pizza Hut franchises in Jamaica. ROJ recently invested $285 million to open its 44th location in Salem, St Ann, and $350 million to open its 45th location in Morant Bay, St Thomas. The company intends to open a new restaurant in the vicinity of Mary Brown’s Corner on Constant Spring Road in 2027.

Restaurant Associates Limited operates the Burger King, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Little Caesars and Krispy Kreme franchises under the supervision of Chairman Richard Lake and CEO Lisa Lake.

These international brands have come up against young Jamaican QSRs like Quick Chick, Chicken & Tings, BirdShack Fried Chicken, and Island Grill, which all continue to expand their footprint. Island Grill invested US$1.6 million to open its 18th store at White River North Plaza, St Ann, in August 2025.

Although some brands like Dairy Queen, Auntie Anne’s, and Cinnabon are operated in Jamaica, they can only be accessed at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. Ian Dear, CEO of Express Catering Limited (ECL), indicated in 2022 that plans were being developed to roll out some of its licensed brands to the rest of the island. The company event spent US$5.4 million in its May 2025 financial year on licences and franchises.

However, there has been no recent update, with the company indicating that its May 2026 audited numbers should be released by September 25.

With these international brands expanding in Jamaica it will be interesting to see if any old brands return to Jamaica, like McDonald’s. Trinidad & Tobago saw the departure of McDonald’s in 2003, due to low sales, before it returned in 2011 under Arcos Dorados Trinidad Limited. There are now four locations in the twin-island republic.

Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc also operates McDonald’s in Aruba, Curaçao, the US Virgin Islands of St Croix and St Thomas, St Martin (French part), and Sint Maarten (Dutch part). However, its master franchise agreement with McDonald’s excludes Jamaica, which has not had a store since October 2005.