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Savvy Sliders owner buys BurgerFiSavvy Sliders owner buys BurgerFi

Acquisition brings restaurant total to 206 units, company says

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

December 17, 2024

2 Min Read
BurgerFi
BurgerFiBurgerFi

The owner of Savvy Sliders has bought the BurgerFi brand, sources confirmed Tuesday.

Detroit, Mich.-based Savvy Sliders, which has 52 locations across Michigan and several other states, bought the 85-unit fast-casual BurgerFi brand after it emerged from bankruptcy protection. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

“With this acquisition, BurgerFi will be a sister brand to Savvy Sliders, Happy’s Pizza, and Fat Boy’s Pizza, bringing the company’s combined portfolio to 206 stores,” the company said in a statement.

Each BurgerFi restaurant, located in 15 states, will continue to operate as BurgerFi, the company said.

“BurgerFi shares our commitment to using the highest-quality, freshest ingredients in each menu item while prioritizing the customer’s dining experience,” Happy Asker, Savvy Sliders’ CEO and founder, said in a statement. “We are pleased to add their award-winning chain to our family of restaurants and look forward to working with the wonderful franchisees and great team at BurgerFi.”

Savvy Sliders, founded in 2018, has locations existing or under development in Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas. Happy’s Pizza has 60 locations in Michigan and Ohio. Fat Boy’s Pizza has nine locations in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

Related:Savvy Sliders named the winner of the Nation’s Restaurant News Burger Showdown

Founded in 2011, BurgerFi is a fast-casual restaurant concept known for serving 100% natural Angus beef with no steroids, antibiotics, or hormones, BurgerFi pairs its gourmet burgers with fries, onion rings, and a selection of craft beers and shakes.

Burger Fi was bought out of bankruptcy by lender TREW Capital Management in October. BurgerFi and Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza were owned by Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based BurgerFi International Inc., which was a public company created through a reverse merger with a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, in 2020.

BFI defaulted on its credit agreement last year and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September.

The company also closed units, leaving BurgerFi with 93 locations (17 company-owned and 76 franchised) when it was acquired by TREW in a bankruptcy auction for a $10 million credit bid.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

Follow him on X/Twitter: @RonRuggless

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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