The private-equity firm made its first deal in the restaurant industry in 2015, with an investment in Barteca Holdings, parent of Barcelona Wine Bar. It’s since been an active investor in restaurants, taking on growth chains at a rate of about one per year. It invested in Joe & the Juice in 2016 and Torchy’s Tacos in 2017.
Despite its interest in small restaurant brands, General Atlantic is a large firm. It has invested in 250 companies with growth potential over three decades and has $20 billion in assets under management.