Australian flame-grilled chicken franchise Oporto is advancing its national expansion strategy as it adds new restaurants and drives growth across key metropolitan and regional markets, with development plans extending into 2026.

In early 2025 Oporto celebrated the opening of its 209th restaurant at Robina on the Gold Coast, Queensland, marking continued acceleration of store rollouts. The new outlet opened with fanfare and community engagement, including a promotion that drew hundreds of customers through the doors.

Following that, the brand confirmed the arrival of a new franchise in Griffith, New South Wales, giving residents local access to its flame-grilled Portuguese chicken, burgers, salads and signature sauces. The Griffith Oporto is expected to create around 40 local jobs and highlights the brand’s commitment to regional expansion.

Oporto’s national footprint now spans more than 200 restaurants, with growth fuelled by a mix of metropolitan, suburban and regional site openings as part of a broader franchise network push.

Executive Insight

Oporto’s expansion in Australia is led by Therese Frangie, CEO, who has emphasised the importance of bringing Oporto’s bold, flavour-driven menu to new communities while supporting franchise partners in their growth journeys. The brand’s strategy prioritises franchisee development, local market penetration and broadening customer access to its signature flame-grilled offerings.

“Opening in regions like Gold Coast and Griffith demonstrates our commitment to making Oporto accessible nationwide and supporting motivated franchise partners as they grow their businesses,” said Frangie in a recent statement on Oporto’s expansion.

Franchise Growth Outlook

Annual Development Pace: Oporto has committed to maintaining a store opening pace of roughly 20 restaurants per year through 2025 and into 2026, reinforcing its active development pipeline across Australia.

National Network: With more than 209 restaurants and counting, Oporto continues to build its network through a mix of drive-thru and traditional shopfront formats — a strategy that supports both urban density and drive routes.(Source: The GC Minute)

Regional Growth: Expansion into regional areas like Griffith and proposed sites such as Tuggerah indicates that the brand is pushing beyond capital cities to capture underserved markets and meet franchise demand.

Oporto Franchise Growth Projection 2026

Expansion Roadmap

Oporto’s current and future growth strategy includes several key components:

1. Consistent Annual Openings: Maintaining a development pace of ~20+ restaurants per year supports both franchise stability and network scale.(Source: QSR Media)

2. Drive-Thru & Urban Formats: A mix of traditional indoor stores and drive-thru formats allows the brand to adapt to varying site opportunities and customer behaviours.

3. Regional Penetration: Opening restaurants in regional markets like Griffith reflects an approach that combines metropolitan strength with community reach.

4. Franchise Partner Support: Oporto’s franchising proposition includes operational training, marketing systems and site selection guidance to help franchisees succeed.

Together these strategic pillars position the brand’s franchise network to grow sustainably through 2026 and beyond.