Executive Spotlight: Al Bhakta, Founding Principal of CMG Companies (2027)
Al Bhakta is a founding principal of CMG Companies, a Dallas-area multi-unit franchisee group that operates brands including KFC, Taco Bell, Sonic Drive-In, Little Caesars, Rent-A-Center and Ace Hardware. He and his partners began as University of Texas at Dallas friends who ran a non-alcohol pool hall, bought into the Genghis Grill restaurant brand in the early 2000s, and later turned to franchising other companies' brands. A 2024 Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine profile described CMG as running more than 400 units.
This page covers public professional information only, drawn from trade press, a company press release and a podcast interview.
Current role and company
Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine (via Franchising.com, May 2024) titles Bhakta Founding Principal of CMG Companies. Franchise Times (2022) calls him a CMG principal and says he also heads the Apricus QSR portfolio, the Little Caesars operator. Franchise Times says CMG's six principals are equal partners who avoid C-suite titles, so titles vary by source and may have changed since.
- CompanyCMG Companies, a multi-unit franchisee and investment group based in the Dallas, Texas area (a 2022 release is datelined Plano).
- TitleFounding Principal (Franchising.com, 2024); Principal (Franchise Times, 2022).
- BrandsKFC, Taco Bell, Sonic Drive-In, Little Caesars, Rent-A-Center and Ace Hardware, per the 2024 profile; Genghis Grill and related concepts earlier.
- Portfolio focusFranchise Times (2022): heads Apricus QSR (Little Caesars). His own Cake profile lists franchise holdings across restaurants, hotels and retail.
Career path
- College years. Per the 2024 profile, Bhakta started a non-alcohol pool hall with five University of Texas at Dallas friends, ran it through college and sold it after graduation. His Cake profile lists a UT Dallas business degree in management information systems.
- 2001. His Cake profile dates his CMG role from August 2001 and says he has worked in franchising since 2001.
- 2002 to 2004. Bhakta said on the Fransmart podcast (January 2026) that the group was introduced to Genghis Grill in 1999, that the first Genghis Grill they operated opened in 2002, and that they bought the brand in 2004.
- 2004 to 2014. His Cake profile lists him as CEO and president of Genghis Grill for these years.
- 2009 to 2012. Per the podcast, CMG was approved for KFC and Taco Bell in 2008 to 2009 and opened its first store in 2009. It bought about 20 struggling KFC stores in 2010 and corporate KFC stores from Yum in 2012.
- 2014. He said the group reset its direction, sold existing brands and focused on franchising. Franchise Times reports the group became CMG Companies in 2014.
- 2020 to 2022. Franchise Times reports Sonic roll-ups beginning in late 2020, Rent-A-Center stores bought from corporate in late 2020, a Little Caesars platform formed in 2022 and Ace Hardware stores acquired in June 2022.
What he is known for
- Building a multi-brand franchisee. Bhakta said on the January 2026 podcast that CMG operates more than 600 locations across ten brands, including KFC, Taco Bell, Sonic, Little Caesars, Ace Hardware, Valvoline, Tide Laundromat and Rent-A-Center.
- An acquisition-first approach. Franchise Times (2022) quotes him describing an acquisition-first strategy and a preference for brands that have weathered multiple economic cycles.
- Little Caesars consolidation. He told Franchise Times the Little Caesars system is fragmented, with many five-unit owners, which is the opening CMG's Apricus platform pursued.
- Industry recognition. A 2022 release says CMG won the International Franchise Association's Franchisee of the Year award, and names him among the leaders who accepted it. The 2024 magazine ranked CMG No. 15 on its Mega 99 list and No. 12 on its Multi-Brand 50.
Leadership style and philosophy
In the 2024 Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine profile, Bhakta described a mostly democratic style in which information is shared and major decisions are put to a vote. His hiring rule there was "Hire slow, fire fast." The article also says CMG leaders hold equity or profit sharing in the businesses and that growth is measured mainly by EBITDA rather than unit count. The company's stated vision in that piece is "One Team. Big Dreams!" This page does not claim a wider philosophy than these remarks.
Key numbers
Company-reported or press-reported figures, each with its period. Counts differ by source and date.
- 2021About $354 million in sales, No. 31 on the Franchise Times Restaurant 200; 196 KFC and Taco Bell units, 103 Sonic and 30 Genghis Grill units (Franchise Times, 2022).
- 2024More than 400 units in more than two dozen states; the magazine lists 101 Sonic, 22 Little Caesars, 143 KFC, 35 KFC/Taco Bell, 2 Taco Bell, 90 Rent-A-Center and 38 Ace Hardware (Franchising.com).
- 2024 revenueApproximately $650 million, per the same profile.
- 2024 goal$100 million in EBITDA as the next big target (same profile).
- January 2026More than 600 locations across ten brands, as Bhakta described on the Fransmart podcast.
Questions people ask
Who is Al Bhakta?
He is a founding principal of CMG Companies, a Dallas-area multi-unit franchisee that operates KFC, Taco Bell, Sonic, Little Caesars, Rent-A-Center, Ace Hardware and other brands.
What brands does CMG Companies operate?
A 2024 profile lists KFC, Taco Bell, Sonic Drive-In, Little Caesars, Rent-A-Center and Ace Hardware. On a January 2026 podcast Bhakta also named Valvoline and Tide Laundromat. Genghis Grill was the group's starting brand.
How did CMG start?
Bhakta says the group began as university friends. Per the 2024 profile they ran a non-alcohol pool hall, then moved into the Genghis Grill brand in the early 2000s.
How big is CMG Companies?
A 2024 magazine profile reported more than 400 units and about $650 million in revenue. In January 2026 Bhakta described more than 600 locations across ten brands. Counts change, so check the company.
Did CMG win an industry award?
A 2022 press release says the International Franchise Association named CMG Companies its Franchisee of the Year.
Is Dunkin one of CMG's brands?
The pages read for this profile do not mention Dunkin, so this page does not list it. Check with the company.
Sources
- Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine via Franchising.com: Moving Forward: Al Bhakta claims MVP for Mega-Growth Leadership (May 2024) · Title, background, unit counts, rankings, management style, quotes; hero photo whose image text names Al Bhakta
- Franchise Times: CMG Fast-Tracks Growth With Sonic, Little Caesars Roll-ups (2022) · Principal title, Apricus role, 2021 figures, acquisitions, quotes
- Fransmart podcast: From Zero to 600: How CMG Companies Built a 600-Unit Empire Across 10 Brands (Jan 2026) · Timeline in Bhakta's words, 2026 scale and brand list
- Yahoo Finance (Newsfile release): CMG Companies honored with Franchisee of the Year Award from the International Franchise Association (Aug 2022) · IFA award, leaders named
- Al Bhakta on Cake (professional profile) · Self-described roles, dates and education
Facts were read from the linked pages on November 1, 2026. Titles and counts are as of the dates shown and may have changed. The hero photo is a close-up portrait of Bhakta alone from the Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine feature on Franchising.com, whose feature image text names him; a separate group photo in the same article was not used. It is cropped to the page format. This page covers public professional information only.
Top photo: Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine / Franchising.com