Duży Ben switches to franchising, with transition planned by the end of 2027

Duży Ben is switching from an agency model to franchising. According to a report published by L’Express Franchise on 28 September 2026, Eurocash links the change to efforts to reverse declining sales and plans to allow 388 shops to trade on Sundays as well. The first outlet operating under the new model is already open in Plewiska, near Poznań in Poland. For those considering the Polish franchise market, the scale of the change is significant: it affects both the conversion of existing outlets and the terms on which new shops will open.

From agency to franchise: a network-wide change

According to the published information, the conversion of existing shops began in the first quarter of 2026 and is due to continue until the end of 2027. This is therefore a phased process, rather than a simultaneous switch across all locations. The deadline is a target for completing the transition, not confirmation that all outlets already operate under the new arrangements.

Alongside this, the chain is introducing a clear rule for future openings: every new Duży Ben shop is to operate exclusively as a franchise. The new model will therefore be introduced in two ways. The first involves shops previously run under the agency model; the second covers outlets that have yet to join the network. The direction is the same in both cases, although the material made available does not provide a timetable for individual locations.

The first franchise shop in Plewiska confirms that implementation is already under way. However, the fact that it is operating does not in itself allow an assessment of the new model’s performance. The report contains no sales figures for the outlet or comparison with its results under any previous operating model.

Four Polish regions in the first phase

The first phase of conversions covers four voivodeships, or Polish administrative regions: Mazowieckie (Masovia), Dolnośląskie (Lower Silesia), Wielkopolskie (Greater Poland) and Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomerania). This gives entrepreneurs interested in the changes a clear geographical indication. It is not, however, a list of available shops or confirmation that franchise opportunities are currently available in every town in those regions.

The published information does not specify the order in which individual outlets will switch to franchising. Nor does it give start dates for subsequent phases in the remaining regions. For now, it is therefore important to distinguish between the overall target for completing the process and the detailed timetable for a particular shop. The latter needs to be confirmed directly with the chain.

For existing operators, the key practical questions are when their outlet will be affected and what terms will accompany the change. For prospective franchisees, the important point is that new openings will no longer use the previous agency model. This is a starting point for discussions, rather than a full description of the franchise offer.

388 shops: Sunday trading, not new openings

The figure of 388 refers to the intention to open shops on Sundays as well. It should not be read as a plan to establish 388 additional outlets. This is an important distinction: the announcement primarily concerns a change in how the network operates and its planned trading days, rather than an expansion programme involving that many new locations.

According to L’Express Franchise, Eurocash hopes the switch to franchising will reverse declining sales. This is a stated business objective, not a documented outcome. The material provided does not quantify the sales decline, forecast an improvement or offer data from which to estimate the impact of additional trading days on revenue. There is therefore no basis for attributing a specific financial benefit to the change.

The announcement of Sunday trading should not be taken as evidence of a change in the law either. The report describes the company’s plan but does not set out the detailed legal basis or staffing arrangements for Sunday opening. The adoption of a franchise model alone is not enough to establish the conditions under which a particular outlet could trade on Sundays. This is one of the issues that needs clarification before committing to a franchise.

What to check before discussing a Duży Ben franchise

The available information sets out the direction, timeframe and initial geographical scope of the change. It does not specify start-up costs, fees, payment arrangements or the division of responsibilities between the chain and the franchisee. Nor does it allow a comparison of the economics of the previous agency model with those of the new arrangement. Assessing the appeal of the opportunity therefore requires more than the transition announcement alone.

Prospective franchisees should request the contract terms, a timetable for their chosen location and clarification of the proposed Sunday trading arrangements. They should also establish which costs and responsibilities they would bear, and what assumptions underpin any financial projections presented to them. These are questions to put to the chain, not features of the offer confirmed in the published material.

Practical takeaway: Duży Ben has begun its transition to franchising, but the network’s plan is no substitute for assessing an individual shop. Before making a decision, confirm the conversion date, the full financial and legal terms, and whether Sunday trading will actually be possible.