NRD Holdings LLC, an Atlanta-based franchisee of quick-service restaurants, has diversified its portfolio with the acquisition of 23 Domino’s Pizza outlets in Florida Thursday.
NRD said it acquired all 23 Domino’s from Kostka Enterprises Inc. in St. Augustine, Fla., but declined to disclose the purchase price.
NRD already franchises the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Checkers Drive-in Restaurants Inc. brands.
Aziz Hashim, NRD’s president and chief executive, said his company purchased the Florida Domino’s locations because it wanted to expand into the pizza segment.
“We want a diverse portfolio, and we did not have a pizza operation,” Hashim told Nation’s Restaurant News. “We’ve been looking for a while to have a pizza brand. Pizza represents an affordable home-meal replacement."
He also said he was looking to establish a presence in the Florida foodservice market.
Seventeen Domino’s outlets are located in Jacksonville and six are in Orlando.
NRD operates 10 Popeyes locations in Atlanta and 21 Checkers/Rally’s locations in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Phoenix.
“We’re thrilled to have Aziz as part of the Domino’s franchise system,” Scott Hinshaw, Domino’s Pizza executive vice president of franchise operations and development, said in a statement. “His incredible track record of success, outstanding leadership and commitment to his diverse portfolio of brands make him the best of the best in the franchising industry.”
Popeyes presented Hashim with its “Emerging Leader” award in March, while Checkers honored him with its inaugural “Brand Ambassador” Award in 2010.
Hashim said he examined various pizza brands and concluded Domino’s was the best fit for NRD. He said the brand scored high in product and management team quality, and unit profitability.
Hashim also said he liked Florida as a foodservice market because even though the state has been impacted by the recession, he believed there was “a good chance to rebound in the future.”
Added Wendy Harkness, NRD chief talent officer and chief legal officer, “Florida has been a market we’ve long had our eye on.”
Contact Alan Snel at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @AlanSnelNRN
