Charles Loflin takes ownership of 92-unit, Hispanic-oriented brand
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A Pizza Patrón Inc. franchisee has purchased the Hispanic-oriented chain from founder Antonio Swad, the company said Monday.
Charles Loflin of San Antonio, a Pizza Patrón franchisee since 2003, and the largest Wingstop franchisee, said the deal closed on Dec. 22. Terms were not disclosed. Pizza Patrón has 92 units.
“The Hispanic consumer is the fastest-growing consumer [demographic] in the United States of America, and we feel like we have a niche that will appeal to that consumer,” Loflin told Nation’s Restaurant News.
Loflin said Pizza Patrón headquarters will move from Dallas to San Antonio.
Loflin also owns San Antonio Wings Inc., which franchises 66 Wingstop units in Austin and San Antonio, as well as Arizona, New Mexico and South Texas.
Both concepts were founded by Swad, who later sold Wingstop to Atlanta-based Roark Capital Group in 2015. The company went public in 2015.
“This is Antonio Swad’s first concept, and is his baby in every way,” said Sandy Bell, a Pizza Patrón spokesperson. “He can’t be more pleased to hand the baton to Charles Loflin after these 30 years because there is no one that would make him feel more confident in the transaction and transition.”
“I’ve known Antonio going on 20 years,” Loflin said, adding that he acquired the first Pizza Patrón to move outside the Dallas-Fort Worth area. “I have store No. 7 as a franchisee.”
With the purchase of Pizza Patrón and its 11 company-owned restaurants, Loflin said he now owns 33 units of the brand. The locations are spread evenly between the Dallas, San Antonio and Phoenix markets.
“I grew up in Texas and spent all my life here, so I’m familiar with the Hispanic consumer,” Loflin said. “I like the ease of the brand, with no delivery. It’s just a great pizza at a great price.”
Units average between 1,200 square feet and 1,500 square feet.
No major changes are expected, he added.
“We just want to take the brand that people know today and put a modern spin on it with pizza recipes, online orders and apps,” Loflin said.
Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless
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