This week’s acquisition of three household names on the Irish fast-food scene – Abrakebabra, O’Briens Cafe, and Bagel Factory – constitutes a landmark deal between two of the country’s most established food franchising businesses, BWG Group and AIL Group. The transaction, however, is not between equals. BWG’s business, including its role as franchisor for Spar, Londis, Mace, and XL supermarkets in Ireland, generated €1.7 billion in sales. This accounted for a quarter of the revenue in the Spar Group, its South African-listed parent. This dwarfed AIL, the group built by the Beere family since the establishment of Abrakebabra in 1982,…

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