Business chain
From Free net encyclopedia
A business chain, or just chain, is a network of physical business locations, which all provide similar services or products, and share a brand. A retail chain is a type of business chain. They inevitably also share some degree of central management, supply chains, training programs, personnel, etc. They tend to either be parts of a single company or franchises, in which individual store owners license the use of the shared brand, training, and know-how. Chains of both main sorts tend to make purchases and licensing agreements as a single entity.
Exceptions to these generalizations include Steve's Pizza in New York.
Even two stores or restaurants or businesses owned by the same person or group can constitute a local chain. Some large chains -- McDonald's, for instance -- are among the largest retail businesses in the world.