Executive Spotlight: Ali Chunara, Founder and President of Chunara Group of Companies (2027)
Ali Chunara (Kadirali Chunara) is the founder and president of Chunara Group of Companies, an Atlanta-based multi-brand franchisee, and is listed as co-founder and president of The Falcons Group, which runs Checkers & Rally's, Dunkin' and QDOBA restaurants. A 2024 Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine profile described a portfolio of about 170 units across a dozen brands and more than $250 million in annual revenue, and named him its Noble Cause MVP. A February 2026 trade article put the group at nearly 200 franchise locations across more than 10 brands.
He built the business by working through quick-service chains, buying one restaurant and then adding more, and by pairing each location with an operating partner. This page covers public professional information only, drawn from trade press, a company page and a franchisor release.
Current role and company
Franchising.com's May 2024 profile titles Chunara President of Chunara Group of Companies. The Falcons Group's own board page lists him as President and Co-Founder. Titles come from those pages and may have changed since.
- CompanyChunara Group of Companies, Atlanta, Georgia (franchisee portfolio), and The Falcons Group, a franchise management network (company board page).
- TitlePresident of Chunara Group of Companies (Franchising.com, 2024); President and Co-Founder of The Falcons Group (company board page).
- Brands, 2024 profileCheckers & Rally's, Dunkin', Take 5 Oil Change, TGI Fridays, My Eyelab, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Blaze Pizza, Kale Me Crazy, BurgerFi, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Church's Texas Chicken and Jimmy John's.
- Falcons Group brandsCheckers and Rally's, Dunkin' and QDOBA Mexican Eats, plus real estate investment, per the group's board page.
- Newer brandDrybar, where the group's portfolio reached 12 locations in a February 2026 report.
Career path
- Early career. The 2024 profile says he worked in several quick-service restaurant jobs before buying his own Blimpie franchise, and worked very long hours in the early years, including a six-month stretch of 18-hour days, seven days a week.
- 2004. Per the same profile, success began to build when he signed an agreement to buy about 10 corporate Checkers locations plus a development agreement with the brand.
- Falcons Group. The group's board page says he has worked in the food industry for almost 40 years, with national brands and banking relationships, and helps the company handle changing franchisor and government rules. A 2021 Checkers & Rally's release said he and Shamsu Charania lead the company, which then operated 32 Checkers restaurants in Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama.
- 2016. The Chunara Group newsroom lists a Georgia Minority Business Award from the State of Georgia in October 2016.
- 2020. The same newsroom lists a $15 million-plus Coffee Cafe Bakery centralized manufacturing investment announced in November 2020, with Piedmont Bank.
- 2021 to 2024. Awards and rankings are listed below. The 2024 profile also reports new development agreements with Take 5 Oil Change, Nothing Bundt Cakes and BurgerFi.
- 2025 to 2026. Franchising.com reported in February 2026 that the group added five Drybar locations, bringing its Drybar portfolio to 12 (seven open, five in development).
What he is known for
- A multi-brand portfolio. The 2024 profile listed about 170 units, led by 62 Checkers & Rally's and 50 Dunkin' locations. Franchising.com's July 2023 coverage said the group then had more than 160 units, mostly restaurants plus Take 5 Oil Change.
- Partner-owned restaurants. The July 2023 article says the company works through operating partners and keeps a 51 percent interest in each unit it adds. New partners are paired with experienced partners in the same brand, and the company stays out of store-level operations.
- Awards. Franchise Business Review named him and Charania 2021 Franchise Rock Stars, chosen from nearly 25,000 franchisees across 224 brands, in the Multi-Unit Owners category, per the Checkers & Rally's release. Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine named him its 2024 Noble Cause MVP. The group's newsroom also lists a March 2024 Mega 99 ranking of the largest franchise groups by Franchising.com.
- Giving back. In the 2024 profile he said he hosts an annual fundraiser for the Aga Khan Foundation at the restaurants, matching donations from customers, vendors and partners. The profile put it at about $300,000 a year, supporting microfinance, poverty alleviation and children's education and feeding in developing countries.
Leadership style and philosophy
These points come from his own interview in the 2024 Franchising.com profile. In it he said, "But if you don't have a purpose, nothing matters."
- Purpose first. He framed generosity as the core value behind the Noble Cause award.
- Delegate, with some oversight. He described himself as not involved in day-to-day operations, focusing on infrastructure and developing new brands, and as delegating while micromanaging to a degree.
- Measure by partners and cash flow. He said he measures growth by the number of operating partners he supports and by network free cash flow.
- Choosing brands. He said to avoid brands that are vertically integrated, and to wait to expand into a brand until you have seen the executive team's vision and concrete financials as an existing franchisee.
- Patience and pruning. He named patience as the best advice he received, and said the next major goal was to eliminate the bottom 10 percent of the assets the company owns.
Key numbers
Press-reported or company-reported figures, each with its period. Counts differ by source and date.
- August 2021The Falcons Group: 32 Checkers locations in Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama (Checkers & Rally's release).
- July 2023More than 160 units (Franchising.com).
- May 2024About 170 units and annual revenue over $250 million (Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine profile).
- Falcons Group, undated pageOver 65 locations across 4 brands in 6 states, per the group's board page.
- February 2026Nearly 200 franchise locations across more than 10 brands; 12 Drybar locations (Franchising.com).
Questions people ask
Who is Ali Chunara?
He is the founder and president of Chunara Group of Companies, an Atlanta multi-brand franchisee, and is listed as co-founder and president of The Falcons Group.
What brands does he operate?
A 2024 profile lists Checkers & Rally's, Dunkin', Take 5 Oil Change, TGI Fridays, My Eyelab, Popeyes, Blaze Pizza, Kale Me Crazy, BurgerFi, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Church's and Jimmy John's. The Falcons Group lists Checkers, Rally's, Dunkin' and QDOBA, and a 2026 report adds Drybar. The brand mix changes over time.
How big is the group?
The 2024 profile reported about 170 units and over $250 million in annual revenue. A February 2026 article said nearly 200 locations across more than 10 brands.
How does the operating model work?
Franchising.com's 2023 coverage says each unit is run by an operating partner, with the company keeping a 51 percent interest in units it adds.
What recognition has he received?
Franchise Business Review named him a 2021 Franchise Rock Star alongside Shamsu Charania, and Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine named him its 2024 Noble Cause MVP.
Is Baskin-Robbins part of his portfolio?
The pages read for this profile do not list Baskin-Robbins for him, so this page does not claim it. Check with the company.
Sources
- Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine via Franchising.com: A Purposeful Life: Kadirali "Ali" Chunara is the 2024 Noble Cause MVP (May 2024) · Title, early career, 2004 Checkers deal, 2024 unit list and revenue, philanthropy, interview points
- The Falcons Group: Board of Directors · President and Co-Founder title, career summary, group size and brands
- Checkers & Rally's via Franchising.com: Ali Chunara and Shamsu Charania recognized as 2021 Franchise Rock Stars (Aug 2021) · Award, selection pool, 2021 Checkers count
- Franchising.com: How the Chunara Group Uses Real Estate and Partners To Grow (July 2023) · 160-plus units, partner model, 51 percent interest
- Franchising.com: Chunara Group Increases Investment in Drybar (Feb 2026) · Nearly 200 locations, Drybar count
- Chunara Group of Companies: Newsroom · Listing of 2016 state award, 2020 bakery investment and 2024 Mega 99 ranking
Facts were read from the linked pages on November 2, 2026. Titles and counts are as of the dates shown and may have changed. The hero photo is a solo studio portrait from the Chunara Group of Companies Meet the Team page, where the text beside it names him; it is centered on a blurred card to fit the page format. Photo: Chunara Group of Companies. This page covers public professional information only.
Top photo: Chunara Group of Companies