From Granville to Global How El Jannah’s $800M–$1B Deal Could Transform the Fast-Food Industry

El Jannah has been acquired by US investor General Atlantic for nearly $1 billion. Here’s how the iconic Australian charcoal-chicken chain plans to challenge giants like KFC with bold global expansion.

Introduction

What began as a modest charcoal-chicken shop in a Sydney suburb has transformed into a fast-food powerhouse. In late November 2025, Lebanese-Australian chain El Jannah famous for its charcoal-grilled chicken and iconic garlic sauce (toum) was acquired by US-based growth investor General Atlantic in a blockbuster deal valued between A$800 million and A$1 billion. (TS2 Tech)
Now, with fresh capital and global ambitions, El Jannah aims to quadruple its outlets, expand beyond Australia, and take on established fast-food giants. This article explores the journey, implications, and what it could mean for the global QSR (quick-service restaurants) landscape.

El Jannah From Humble Beginnings to Cult Favorite

El Jannah was founded in 1998 by Lebanese immigrants Andre and Carole Estephan, starting with a small charcoal-chicken shop in Granville, Western Sydney. (Wikipedia)
The brand quickly gained a cult following thanks to its authentic Lebanese-style charcoal chicken, fresh bread, pickles and especially its signature garlic sauce (toum) a flavor profile that grew into a cultural favourite. (Real Estate Australia)
Over time, the chain expanded gradually: from a single store to dozens across Australian cities. As of 2025, El Jannah reportedly operates around 47–50 outlets across states including NSW, Victoria and ACT. (Wikipedia)
The growth reflects not just good food, but strong brand identity rooted in migrant heritage something that resonates with a diverse Australian population craving authentic tastes. (Real Estate Australia)

The $800 M–$1 B Deal: What Happened & Who Bought It

In late November 2025, El Jannah was acquired by General Atlantic, a New York headquartered global growth investor, in a deal reportedly worth between A$800 million and close to A$1 billion. (TS2 Tech)
The deal followed a competitive auction that drew heavyweight bidders including other major investment firms. (TS2 Tech)
Significantly, the original founders the Estephan family will retain a minority stake and remain involved, while existing management under CEO Brett Houldin will continue running day-to-day operations. (TS2 Tech)
For General Atlantic, this is yet another high-growth consumer brand investment the kind of scalable, culturally-rooted, fast-casual concept that has global potential. (El Jannah Charcoal Chicken)

What’s Next Expansion & Strategy

With new backing, El Jannah’s growth ambitions are bold:

Current network (~50 outlets) is planned to expand to almost 200 restaurants nationwide in the coming years. (El Jannah Charcoal Chicken)
In the immediate future, over 25 new outlets are planned within the next 12 months across NSW, Victoria and ACT including high-traffic suburban and urban areas. (El Jannah Charcoal Chicken)
International expansion is also on the cards: reports suggest exploring selective global markets, potentially starting with regions where Lebanese-style cuisine is culturally resonant. (El Jannah Charcoal Chicken)
Along with fresh outlets, the investment will support upgrades in digital ordering, guest-experience infrastructure and brand positioning aiming to preserve the chain’s soul (authentic charcoal chicken + family hospitality) while scaling up. (El Jannah Charcoal Chicken)
The ambition isn’t just national: the chain seems ready to challenge global fast-food giants such as KFC and Red Rooster by offering a unique culinary and cultural alternative. (Real Commercial)

ltas Opinion What This Deal Really Means

At AltasGaming.com, our view is that the El Jannah acquisition represents more than another fast-food buyout; it signals a major shift in the global food industry.

Here’s what stands out:

1. Cultural brands have global potential

El Jannah proves that migrant-origin food brands can scale internationally as long as they protect authenticity and consistency.

2. Private equity brings opportunity AND risk

With General Atlantic pushing for rapid expansion:

Growth will accelerate
Operations will improve
But quality control becomes a challenge
Risk of losing the “charcoal chicken soul” is real

Maintaining flavour, warmth, and identity will determine long-term success.

3. A gap in the global market

There is a massive, underserved global audience for:

Halal fast food
Charcoal-grilled chicken
Mediterranean/Lebanese flavours

El Jannah is perfectly positioned to fill this niche.

4. It’s not just competing with KFC it’s redefining fast food

Today’s customers demand:

Authenticity
Better ingredients
Cultural flavours
Premium fast-casual options

El Jannah matches all four.

If executed well, El Jannah could become one of the first ethnic-origin Australian brands to scale into a global fast-food competitor.

FAQs

Q1: Was the El Jannah sale worth A$800 million or A$1 billion?

Different sources report different numbers. Most analysts agree the deal was valued close to A$1 billion, depending on equity vs enterprise valuation.

Q2: Are the founders still involved after the acquisition?

Yes. The Estephan family retains a minority stake and remains part of the leadership structure.

Q3: How many El Jannah stores exist right now?

As of 2025, the chain operates roughly 47–50 stores in Australia.

Q4: Will El Jannah expand internationally?

Yes. International growth especially in the Middle East and Asia — is part of the new strategy.

Q5: Can El Jannah become a global fast-food giant?

If it maintains quality and authentic flavours while scaling efficiently, El Jannah could challenge established players like KFC in select global markets.

Conclusion

El Jannah’s journey from a small Granville chicken shop to a near-billion-dollar acquisition is a remarkable story of cultural authenticity, community support, and smart business evolution. With General Atlantic’s investment, the chain now has the resources to expand nationally and globally potentially redefining the fast-food landscape.

However, long-term success depends on one thing:
staying authentic while scaling fast.

If El Jannah maintains quality, heritage, and customer trust, it could become one of the most influential food brands to emerge from Australia.

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How El Jannah Became a Billion-Dollar Giant The Aussie Chicken Chain Taking on KFC