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6 big mergers involving Top 200 restaurant brands since June6 big mergers involving Top 200 restaurant brands since June

Jimmy John’s, Del Frisco’s, Peet’s and others have changed ownership in the last six months

Holly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor

January 21, 2020

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Large restaurant chains across the country have been involved in mergers and acquisitions since June of 2019, when Nation’s Restaurant News released its annual list of The Top 200 chains by reported or estimated U.S. sales.

Jimmy John’s, the third largest sandwich chain, was purchased by Inspire Brands, the same company that owns Arby’s, giving Inspire a hold on the sandwich category — except for Subway, the largest sandwich chain and fourth-largest chain overall.

TGI Fridays agreed in a deal to go public, merging with Allegro Merger Corp. and erasing the casual dining chain’s debts, which totaled over $350 million. The deal, which is not yet final, will also allow the casual dining chain’s leadership to focus on bringing diners back in. The restaurant has seen same-store sales decline over the past few years.

Some chains are big, but still outside the Top 200 rankings. A merger or acquisition could change that.

The Cheesecake Factory acquired Fox Restaurant Concepts in 2019, expanding their portfolio and giving North Italia and other small brands a boost into a larger segment. This boost comes as North Italia was already aiming to grow by 20% and enter new markets.

Read about the brands that changed hands in the second half of 2019 while we wait to see what’s ahead for the Top 200 chains in the first six months of 2020.

Contact Holly at [email protected]

About the Author

Holly Petre

Assistant Digital Editor

Holly Petre is a digital editor for Nation’s Restaurant News as well as the host of NRN’s podcast, Extra Serving, and producer for Informa Restaurant and Food Group’s other three podcasts, One On One by Food Management, Off the Shelf with SN and In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn. Holly holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Sculpture, fibers and Material Studies and Ceramics from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A native New Yorker, Holly enjoys her place on staff as the resident pop-culture expert and millennial with a sassy attitude and great sense of style.

Holly Petre’s work on Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality often covers marketing and trends, either aimed-at or examined-through the millennial mindset. Holly is responsible for introducing TikTok and Twitch to NRN and RH readers as well as explaining terms like “Karen” to staff and readers alike. She also spends her time on staff trying not to make every headline a pun.

Holly Petre hasn’t spoken at any events or on panels, but she is readily available with a killer shoe wardrobe and several witty quips.

 

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