Head to head · Retail / Hardware✓ VERIFIED · 2026-07-12
Ace Hardware vs Wingstop: units, growth & AI adoption
Wingstop leads on AI adoption (72/100 vs 57/100), while Ace Hardware is the larger system by unit count (5,900+ vs 2,400+). Wingstop is growing faster year-over-year (+12.8%). Data verified Q3 2026.
| Metric | Ace Hardware | Wingstop |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Retail / Hardware | QSR / Fast Food |
| Headquarters | USA | USA |
| Units (approx.) | 5,900+ ◂ | 2,400+ |
| Unit growth YoY | +2.6% | +12.8% ◂ |
| AI Adoption Score | 57/100 | 72/100 ◂ |
| Operations AI | 60 | 68 ◂ |
| Marketing AI | 54 | 76 ◂ |
| Training AI | 50 | 62 ◂ |
| Data infrastructure | 62 | 80 ◂ |
| Region | North America | North America |
| Index rank | #33 | #11 ◂ |
Ace Hardware
Cooperative retail model with strong APAC licensing; AI in assortment planning and inventory optimization at the wholesale level.
FULL ACE HARDWARE PROFILE →Wingstop
One of the fastest-growing US franchises; digital mix above 65% and an in-house AI ordering platform position it near the top of mid-size QSRs.
FULL WINGSTOP PROFILE →Franchise Intelligence Index
Compare every tracked system — full benchmarks, updated quarterly.
SOURCE: FRANCHISEPULSE FRANCHISE INTELLIGENCE INDEX, Q3 2026 · FREE TO CITE WITH ATTRIBUTION + LINK