Franchise Brands reports record sales as growth accelerates across core franchise networks
Franchise group delivers stronger third-quarter performance, with Pirtek and Filta leading growth as demand for essential business services continues to rise.
UK-based multi-brand franchisor Franchise Brands has reported record system sales for the third quarter of 2026, with growth accelerating across its business-to-business (B2B) franchise operations.
The group, which owns several established franchise brands including hydraulic hose repair specialist Pirtek and commercial kitchen services provider Filta, recorded system sales growth of 8.4% in Q3.
This represents an improvement on the 6.7% growth reported during the first half of the year and a significant acceleration compared with the 4.2% recorded during the same period last year.
The latest figures highlight the continued demand for essential business services and the resilience of franchise models operating in sectors where customers rely on regular maintenance, repairs and specialist support.
Strong performances across core franchise brands
Stephen Hemsley, Executive Chairman of Franchise Brands, said the group had delivered another period of record system sales, building on the positive momentum achieved during the first half of the year.
He highlighted the broad-based nature of the growth, with all three of the group’s core B2B franchise brands contributing to the improved performance.
Hemsley said:
“The Group achieved another period of record System sales in Q3 2026, building on the momentum achieved in the first half and delivering growth at a significantly higher rate than the prior year.”
He added that Pirtek’s key franchised businesses had returned to more robust growth, while Filta had delivered a particularly strong performance as it continued expanding its service offering through FiltaClean Pro.
The results suggest that the group’s strategy of developing specialist services and increasing the range of solutions available to commercial customers is helping drive further growth across its franchise network.
Pirtek UK and North American Filta operations lead the way
Among the individual businesses, Pirtek’s UK operation reported system sales growth of 8.9%, demonstrating continued demand for its hydraulic hose repair and replacement services.
The business supports customers across sectors including construction, manufacturing, transport and agriculture, where equipment downtime can have a significant impact on productivity and operating costs.
Filta delivered an even stronger performance in North America, with system sales increasing by 20.8%.
Its growth was supported by increased demand for its commercial kitchen services, alongside a favourable rise in used cooking oil prices, which increased by 42%.
Filta provides specialist services to commercial kitchens, restaurants and foodservice operators, including kitchen equipment maintenance, extraction cleaning and used cooking oil collection.
The expansion of its FiltaClean Pro offering is also helping the business broaden its reach and generate additional opportunities within its existing customer base.
Focus on three core Franchise Brands: Pirtek, Filta, and Metro Rod
Alongside the improved trading performance, Franchise Brands is continuing to simplify its wider business structure, concentrating its resources on three principal B2B franchise brands: Pirtek, Filta and Metro Rod.
The strategy is intended to create a more focused group, allowing management to concentrate on the development and growth of its established franchise operations.
The company also intends to use proceeds from any business disposals to reduce debt, strengthening its financial position and providing greater focus on its core activities.
Confidence in full-year performance
Despite ongoing economic challenges, Franchise Brands said the stronger third-quarter performance had reinforced its confidence in meeting full-year profit expectations.
The acceleration in system sales growth provides further evidence of the resilience of its B2B franchise model, particularly across sectors providing essential services to commercial customers.
For the wider UK franchise industry, the results also demonstrate the opportunities available to franchisors operating in specialist service markets, where recurring customer requirements and diversified service offerings can support sustainable network growth.
While the market reaction to the latest announcement was relatively muted, with the company’s shares already trading close to their strongest levels of the year, the underlying trading figures represent an encouraging update for the group.
With its focus now firmly on Pirtek, Filta and Metro Rod, Franchise Brands will be looking to build on the momentum achieved during 2026 and deliver further growth across its core franchise networks.
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