Franchise Expansion: New Locations in Leipzig and Bavaria

Three recent location announcements highlight activity in Germany’s franchise sector: Wen Cheng is preparing to move into a former restaurant in Leipzig, Fat Monk has signed leases for two more outlets in Bavaria, and McDonald’s franchisee Mathias Schätzthauer is about to open his third restaurant. The projects are at distinctly different stages, however. While a specific opening date has been announced for Nersingen, dates for Leipzig and the two Bavarian Fat Monk outlets remain unconfirmed.

Wen Cheng prepares to open in Leipzig

Berlin-based noodle franchise Wen Cheng is set to take over the premises of the former China White restaurant on Peterssteinweg in Leipzig’s Zentrum-Süd district. According to a report in the Leipziger Volkszeitung on 10 November, the words “Biang Biang Hand-Pulled Noodles” are already visible in the window. China White closed in September after 24 years in business.

An exact opening date has not yet been announced. The company had not initially responded to the newspaper’s enquiry. However, co-founder Valentin Spieß had suggested on LinkedIn a few weeks earlier that the restaurant could open before the end of the year. This is therefore an announced entry into the local market, rather than a restaurant already trading.

Wen Cheng was founded in Berlin in 2021 by brothers Rui and Peng Gao, together with Valentin Spieß. The concept focuses on hand-pulled Chinese noodles. Alongside Berlin, the report lists existing locations in Potsdam, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Cologne and Stuttgart. Leipzig would add another major city to that presence.

The brand also has more than 50,000 Instagram followers. In Leipzig, however, it will not be entering an untapped market: a restaurant called Biang Biang Noodles already operates on Zschochersche Straße in the Plagwitz district. When assessing the project, it is therefore worth distinguishing between a brand that is new to the city and a product already familiar to local diners. The report does not identify who will operate the Leipzig restaurant.

Fat Monk secures two more locations in Bavaria

Fat Monk – Deli Bowls has backed its German expansion plans with two further signed leases. According to a company statement dated 13 November, two additional outlets in Bavaria are at an advanced planning stage. The statement does not name any cities, addresses or opening dates.

The announcement centres initially on an opening in Austria: a new outlet is scheduled to launch at Linz Central Station on 24 November 2026. It will be on the lower ground floor, directly on Bahnhofplatz. The Austrian fast-casual brand says this opening will bring its network to 14 locations across Austria and Germany and mark its entry into Upper Austria.

For those considering the German franchise market, the link between site development and franchise partner recruitment is particularly relevant. StarDev SE supports the expansion in Germany and Austria as a development partner. According to the statement, the focus is on developing attractive locations and building a franchise network capable of long-term success.

The two planned Bavarian outlets are therefore a concrete step in this expansion. However, the signed leases do not establish that opening is imminent, nor do they reveal the identity of future franchise partners. The statement also provides no country-by-country breakdown of the 14 locations.

McDonald’s franchisee expands in Nersingen

The Augsburger Allgemeine reports a confirmed planned opening date for Nersingen, in Bavaria’s Neu-Ulm district. A new McDonald’s restaurant is scheduled to begin trading there on 17 November 2026 with what is described as a “soft opening”. Daily opening hours of 7am to midnight are planned thereafter.

The operator is franchisee Mathias Schätzthauer. Nersingen will become his third location, following his restaurants in Senden and Vöhringen. Rather than a new franchise partner joining the network, this is an existing operator extending his local presence.

According to the report dated 13 November, around 50 jobs have already been created for the new location. Alongside the opening date, the announcement therefore includes a specific employment figure. The description of the restaurant as particularly modern, by contrast, comes from the operator; the available extract of the report does not explain any specific technological innovations.

What these plans mean for prospective franchisees

The three announcements represent different stages of expansion: a planned takeover of former restaurant premises in Leipzig, site plans backed by signed leases in Bavaria, and a scheduled addition to an existing McDonald’s franchisee’s portfolio. A new location announcement does not automatically establish whether an operator has been appointed or when customers will actually be served.

Practical takeaway: When assessing new location announcements, prospective franchisees should ask specifically about the operating structure, lease status and confirmed opening date. These details help distinguish a growth announcement from an opening with concrete preparations in place.