Compare the Right Groups, Not Just the Whole System.
iLumen builds peer groups around the variables that actually drive performance — brand, region, store format, operator, vintage, plus the custom tags and metadata unique to your system — so every comparison reflects your real operating model, not a system average.
The Problem
Averages hide the real story.
System averages don't answer the question franchisees and operators actually ask.
A new store should not be compared to a mature store. A high-rent urban location does not belong in the same group as a rural one. Operators want to know how they compare to stores like mine — not the entire system.
“Your store ranks #87 out of 412.” Operator response: “Compared to what?”
“Among 38 mature urban stores in your revenue band, you rank 6th in EBITDA margin.” Now the conversation goes somewhere.
What iLumen Does
Organize performance by the segments that actually explain it.
Region and store size are table stakes. iLumen layers in operational tags, metadata, and custom segmentation — letting leaders evaluate every store, operator, and region in cohorts built for how their system actually operates.
Compare across the dimensions that matter
Peer groups built around your business — not generic benchmarks.
Within-brand, within-system, within-cohort comparisons replace the “industry average” problem with answers operators and franchisees actually trust.
- Compare stores by region, DMA, market, ownership group, location type, or revenue band
- Build custom cohorts: new stores, mature stores, renovated stores, urban, rural, or high-volume operators
- Segment by corporate vs. franchise, ownership group, menu mix, store age, or wage environment
- Help franchisees understand how they compare to similar locations
- Give franchisors more relevant performance benchmarks
- Support better Item 19 selection, inclusion, exclusion, and segmentation
What Customers Can Answer
Move beyond averages. Ask better questions.
Which stores are outperforming similar peers — and what are they doing differently?
Which operators need support, and where should we focus first?
What changed after our price increase, by cohort?
Which segments and store types are most profitable?
Which locations are truly comparable for Item 19 reporting?
How do our renovated stores perform vs. unchanged peers?
We do this
- Tag & segment
- Build peer groups
- Define custom cohorts
- Apply within-brand benchmarks
So you can do this
- Compare “stores like mine”
- Identify true outperformers
- Coach operators with relevant context
- Sharpen Item 19 inclusion logic
Comparisons leaders can defend. Decisions they can act on.
iLumen builds the within-brand cohorts that benchmark every location against the right peers — the operators, regions, and formats that actually compare. See what that looks like for your system.