Sunset Grill Restaurants
Sunset Grill Restaurants operates 100+ franchised all-day breakfast and lunch restaurants across Canada (Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick) and select U.S. markets. Founded in 1985, it generates revenue through 5% franchise royalties, 1% advertising fees, $55K franchise fees, catering, and direct restaurant sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersMississauga, Canada
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Sunset Grill Restaurants does
Sunset Grill Restaurants is a Canadian franchise chain specializing exclusively in all-day breakfast and lunch, founded in 1985 in Toronto by Angelo Christou and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario. The system comprises more than 100 owner-operated franchised restaurants across Ontario, Alberta, and New Brunswick, with one operating location in Las Vegas, Nevada and a stated pipeline for further U.S. expansion. The concept is built around a "Fresh is Tastiest®" food preparation philosophy that uses flat-top grills, pat-dry bacon, no deep frying, and fresh-squeezed orange juice, and is anchored by a proprietary Signature Blend coffee made from high-altitude Arabica beans sourced from South America, Central America, and Kenya. The technology stack is conventional for a multi-unit restaurant brand: restaurant point-of-sale systems, an online ordering and store-locator web platform, and a separate gift card platform (Freebees Pay), with no proprietary AI, ML, or data platform disclosed.
The business is monetized through four primary streams. New franchisees pay a one-time franchise fee of $55,000 USD (or $55,000 CAD + HST in Canada), with total build-out capital requirements of $500,000–$700,000 USD and a $200,000–$250,000 minimum cash/liquidity requirement. Each franchisee then pays an ongoing 5% royalty on sales and a 1% advertising fee that funds online (social, SEO) and traditional (print, radio, TV) brand marketing. At the unit level, the company claims up to 20% net margins for franchisees, supported by a one-shift operating model (typically 6:30 AM–3:00 PM or 7:00 AM–4:00 PM) that reduces labor complexity and supports work-life balance. Go-to-market combines a franchisee-recruitment channel (served by a dedicated franchising team, LinkedIn presence, and a 1% brand ad fund) with direct-to-consumer channels including dine-in, phone-in takeout, three third-party delivery aggregators (DoorDash, SkipTheDishes, Uber Eats), in-restaurant and online gift cards, and an event catering service.
Sunset Grill is governed as Sunset Grill Restaurants Ltd. under Ontario law, is privately held, and is a 20-year member of the Canadian Franchise Association and a member of the International Franchise Association. It has earned industry recognition including a Toronto Sun Readers' Choice "Best Breakfast" award, a Canadian Franchise Association 15-year milestone award, a Foodservice and Hospitality Magazine "Tops in Hospitality" award, and a Canadian Cancer Society Corporate Champion Award tied to its 15-year Pancake Tuesday fundraiser that has cumulatively raised over $297,000. Customer segments are horizontal: individual diners and families are the primary segment, with corporate/event catering and franchisees as secondary segments. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.
Sunset Grill Restaurants firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sunset Grill Restaurants
- Legal name
- Sunset Grill Restaurants Ltd.
- Website
- https://sunsetgrill.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Sunset Grill Restaurants operates 100+ franchised all-day breakfast and lunch restaurants across Canada (Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick) and select U.S. markets. Founded in 1985, it generates revenue through 5% franchise royalties, 1% advertising fees, $55K franchise fees, catering, and direct restaurant sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sunset Grill Restaurants industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Casual Dining Restaurants
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- All-Day Dining Restaurants (THAFACAJ)
Keywords
Where Sunset Grill Restaurants is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mississauga
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sunset Grill Restaurants business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Franchise Royalties: Franchisees pay ongoing royalties of 5% of sales to the franchisor, providing recurring revenue stream based on franchisee performance.
- Advertising Fees: Franchisees contribute 1% to brand advertising campaigns supporting online (social media, SEO) and traditional media (print, radio, TV) marketing efforts.
- Franchise Fees: One-time franchise fee of $55,000 USD for new franchisees, plus estimated total capital cost of $500,000-$700,000 USD including build-out.
- Catering Services: Individual locations generate revenue through catering orders for platters of select menu items, providing additional per-transaction revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Early Bird Breakfast Special |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Signature Blend Coffee Beans |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Franchise Fee (USA) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Franchise Fee (Canada) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Sunset Grill Restaurants product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sunset Grill Restaurants operates a Canadian franchise chain of full-service breakfast and lunch restaurants serving made-to-order fresh food cooked on flat-top grills with no deep frying, under the proprietary "Fresh is Tastiest®" philosophy. With over 100 owner-operated franchised locations across Ontario, Alberta, and New Brunswick, the brand offers all-day breakfast, classic omelettes, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, burgers, fresh juices, and a proprietary Signature Blend coffee. The company also sells gift cards, provides catering services for events, and licenses its franchise system to entrepreneurs.
Product overview
Sunset Grill Restaurants operates as a Canadian full-service breakfast and lunch restaurant chain founded in 1985 by Angelo Christou in Toronto, Ontario. The company operates on a 'Fresh is Tastiest®' philosophy, serving made-to-order breakfast and lunch using fresh ingredients, flat-top grills, pat dry bacon, and no deep frying. With more than 100 franchised locations across Ontario, Alberta, and New Brunswick, the company offers all-day breakfast, classic omelettes, pancakes/waffles/French toast, lunch fare (sandwiches and burgers), fresh juices, and hot/cold drinks. Additional offerings include gift cards (physical and virtual), catering services for events, and franchise opportunities. The brand is expanding across Canada and select U.S. markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sunset Grill All-Day Breakfast and Lunch Restaurant Full-service table-service breakfast and lunch restaurant offering made-to-order fresh food cooked using flat-top grills, with no deep frying. Features all-day breakfast, classic omelettes, pancakes, waffles, French toast, sandwiches, burgers, and fresh juices. Targeted at individual consumers, families, and professionals seeking quality breakfast and lunch.
- Gift Cards
- Catering Catering service offering platters of select menu items including freshly cracked eggs, thick bacon, fluffy pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, wraps, fresh orange juice, and signature blend coffee for workplace events and celebrations.
- Sunset Grill Franchise Franchise opportunity for owning and operating a Sunset Grill restaurant. The brand offers a one-shift operation model (7am-4pm), owner-operated model, with a franchise fee of $55,000 CAD/USD and estimated total capital cost of $500,000-$700,000. Targeted at entrepreneurial individuals or couples seeking business ownership with healthy work-life balance.
Quantifiable outcome
- Profit margins up to 20% on net sales for franchisees
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sunset Grill Restaurants
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sunset Grill Restaurants technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature2 records
Sunset Grill Restaurants partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.
- DoorDashminorThird-party delivery partnership allowing participating Sunset Grill locations to offer delivery services through the DoorDash platform. Extends customer access beyond dine-in and takeout.
- SkipTheDishesminorThird-party delivery partnership enabling customers to order Sunset Grill for delivery through the SkipTheDishes platform at participating locations.
- Uber EatsminorThird-party delivery partnership through Uber Eats platform, providing additional delivery channel for participating Sunset Grill restaurant locations.
- Egg Farmers of Canada (EQA Program)coreStrategic sourcing partnership with Canadian egg farmers through the Egg Quality Assurance (EQA) program. All eggs served at Sunset Grill come from farms following national standards including mandatory animal care, Start Clean-Stay Clean food safety program, and third-party audits. Supports transition to alternative hen housing by 2036.
- Hayter's FarmcoreOntario-based turkey bacon supplier providing free-roam, responsibly farmed turkey bacon. Part of Sunset Grill's commitment to sourcing from local Ontario producers.
- Canadian Cancer SocietymajorCharitable partnership through Sunset Grill's Annual Pancake Tuesday Fundraiser. 2025 was the 15th year of the event, having raised over $297,000 for cancer research.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sunset Grill Restaurants competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Eggsquis: Quebec-based breakfast and lunch restaurant chain with a comparable all-day breakfast focus and Quebec/Ontario footprint. Directly competes for the same Canadian breakfast diner occasion.
- Cora's: Quebec-founded breakfast, brunch, and lunch chain with a similar full-service, daytime-only positioning across Canada. Most directly comparable Canadian breakfast concept in menu, daypart, and family-dining orientation.
Broad incumbents
- Tim Hortons: Canada's dominant QSR chain with a heavy breakfast and coffee daypart. Competes with Sunset Grill on breakfast occasions but via a counter-service, lower price-point model rather than full-service dine-in.
- A&W Canada: Major Canadian QSR chain offering a breakfast daypart with burgers and coffee. Competes with Sunset Grill for morning and lunch traffic at a lower price point and counter-service format.
- Denny's: Iconic U.S. diner-style chain with 24/7 service and a strong breakfast and lunch offering. Directly comparable menu positioning but with much larger scale, broader daypart, and U.S./international distribution.
- Country Style: Ontario-based QSR chain specializing in breakfast and coffee, with franchised locations. Comparable Canadian breakfast daypart positioning and franchise structure but counter-service model.
- Waffle House: Long-standing U.S. breakfast-focused diner chain with a strong breakfast and lunch menu and similar fresh-cooked value proposition. Comparable menu and breakfast specialization but U.S.-only footprint and different operating model.
- IHOP: Large U.S.-headquartered international breakfast and pancake chain with significantly broader footprint and brand awareness. Overlaps with Sunset Grill on breakfast and lunch daypart but operates extended hours and a wider menu.
- McDonald's Canada: Global QSR leader with all-day breakfast in Canada. Directly competes on breakfast occasion and price point but operates a drive-thru/QSR model rather than full-service dine-in.
Regional players
- Chez Ashton: Quebec-based fast-food chain focused on breakfast poutine and a regional breakfast daypart. Indirect overlap with Sunset Grill's Canadian breakfast specialization, primarily competing in Quebec rather than nationally.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sunset Grill Restaurants social profiles
Digital presenceSunset Grill Restaurants compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Sunset Grill Restaurants financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sunset Grill Restaurants leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Sunset Grill Restaurants funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sunset Grill Restaurants M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sunset Grill Restaurants
What does Sunset Grill Restaurants do?
Sunset Grill Restaurants operates a Canadian franchise chain of full-service breakfast and lunch restaurants serving made-to-order fresh food cooked on flat-top grills with no deep frying, under the proprietary "Fresh is Tastiest®" philosophy. With over 100 owner-operated franchised locations across Ontario, Alberta, and New Brunswick, the brand offers all-day breakfast, classic omelettes, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, burgers, fresh juices, and a proprietary Signature Blend coffee. The company also sells gift cards, provides catering services for events, and licenses its franchise system to entrepreneurs.
Is Sunset Grill Restaurants a public or private company?
Sunset Grill Restaurants is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sunset Grill Restaurants founded?
Sunset Grill Restaurants was founded in 1985. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Sunset Grill Restaurants based?
Sunset Grill Restaurants is headquartered in Mississauga, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Sunset Grill Restaurants make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Franchise Royalties are the primary driver. The others are advertising Fees, franchise Fees and catering Services.
Who are Sunset Grill Restaurants's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Eggsquis and Cora's. Broad incumbents are Tim Hortons, A&W Canada, Denny's, Country Style, Waffle House, IHOP and McDonald's Canada. Chez Ashton is listed as a regional player.
Does Sunset Grill Restaurants have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sunset Grill Restaurants.
What industry is Sunset Grill Restaurants in?
Sunset Grill Restaurants's product category is Casual Dining Restaurants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAJ, All-Day Dining Restaurants. Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5810.