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All of the IPO news from around the restaurant industry in 2021All of the IPO news from around the restaurant industry in 2021

At least 7 chains confirmed plans to go public this year, with others reportedly considering it

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister, Managing Editor

December 15, 2021

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It was a busy year for restaurants going public.

At least seven chains made moves to file IPOs in 2021, from quick-service Krispy Kreme returning to the public market to family-dining First Watch showing what can be possible for full-service brands.

At least three restaurant technology companies also considered going public, with provider Olo raising $450 million in its mid-March debut.

Not all of the restaurant IPO rumors came to fruition this year, though. There were reports in March that Torchy’s Tacos was hoping to accelerate growth by going public this year, but nothing ever came of it, and CEO GJ Hart announced his retirement in early November.

In July, reports surfaced that P.F. Chang’s was in talks with possible advisers for an initial public offering, but as of mid-December that hadn’t panned out yet. That chain was previously public from 1998-2012.

Click through the gallery to catch up on all of the IPO news from the restaurant world, and stay tuned to NRN.com throughout 2022 to find out who goes public next.

About the Author

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister

Managing Editor

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister is a managing editor for Informa’s Foodservices Vertical, specifically Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Hospitality, and Foodservice Director.  Leigh Anne works on all of the brands’ special reports, including Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual Top 500 report and Restaurant Hospitality’s Best Cocktails and Best Sandwiches contests. She also manages the group’s digital engagement team, and was the managing editor for Supermarket News until December 2024.

Leigh Anne lives in New York City, but also claims Phoenix, Dallas and Cleveland as hometowns. Leigh Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where she also studied European history. 

Email Leigh Anne at [email protected] 

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister’s experience: 

  • Group Managing Editor, Informa’s Foodservices Vertical (Aug. 2021-present)

  • Group Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (Feb. 2020-Aug. 2021)

  • Digital Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (April 2018-Feb. 2020)

  • Digital Content Producer, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (June 2016-April 2018)

  • Community Moderator, Mail Online (March 2014-June 2016)

  • Wire Editor, Gannett’s Phoenix Design studio (The Arizona Republic, The Reno Gazette-Journal, The Statesman Journal, The Great Falls Tribune, The Visalia Times-Delta, The Tulare Advance Register, The Salinas Californian, The St. George Spectrum, The Desert Sun, The Coloradoan) (Jan. 2012-March 2014)

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