What are BWW-GO Restaurants, as franchised by Buffalo Wild Wings, an affiliate of Carvel?
Carvel Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Buffalo Wild Wings is a franchisor of sports entertainment-oriented casual sports bars that feature chicken wings, sandwiches, and other products, alcoholic and other beverages, and related services under Buffalo Wild Wings® name ("Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars") and restaurants that feature chicken wings and other food and beverage products primarily for offpremises consumption under the Buffalo Wild Wings GO name ("BWW-GO Restaurants"). Buffalo Wild Wings has offered franchises for Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars since April 1991 and for BWW-GO Restaurants since December 2020. As of December 29, 2024, there were 1,183 Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars operating in the United States (538 franchised and 645 company-owned) and 65 franchised Buffalo Wild Wings or B-Dubs restaurants operating outside the United States. As of December 29, 2024, there were 140 BWW-GO Restaurants operating in the United States (90 franchised and 50 companyowned).
Source: Item 1 — The Franchisor and any Parents, Predecessors, and Affiliates (FDD pages 9–24)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Carvel's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Buffalo Wild Wings, an affiliate of Carvel, franchises two types of restaurants. Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars are sports entertainment-oriented casual sports bars that feature chicken wings, sandwiches, other products, alcoholic and other beverages, and related services under the Buffalo Wild Wings® name. BWW-GO Restaurants feature chicken wings and other food and beverage products primarily for off-premises consumption under the Buffalo Wild Wings GO name.
Buffalo Wild Wings has been offering franchises for Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars since April 1991 and for BWW-GO Restaurants since December 2020. As of December 29, 2024, there were 1,183 Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars operating in the United States, with 538 being franchised and 645 company-owned. Additionally, there were 65 franchised Buffalo Wild Wings or B-Dubs restaurants operating outside the United States. As of the same date, there were 140 BWW-GO Restaurants operating in the United States, with 90 being franchised and 50 company-owned.
For a prospective Carvel franchisee, this information highlights the different franchise options available within the broader affiliated group. While Carvel focuses on ice cream shops, its affiliate Buffalo Wild Wings offers sports bar and off-premises focused restaurant concepts. This provides potential insights into the overall business strategy and diverse offerings of the parent company, Inspire Brands, Inc.