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.
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