Financing

Fatburger’s parent to buy Hurricane Grill & Wings

Deal also includes Hurricane's new fast-casual spinoff

The parent company of Fatburger has agreed to buy Hurricane Grill & Wings and its Hurricane BTW fast-casual spinoff in a deal valued at $12.5 million.

The buyer, Fat Brands, already has wing concepts Buffalo’s Cafe and Buffalo’s Express in its portfolio. Hurricane Grill is larger than Buffalo’s, with about 60 units. Buffalo’s has about 25 stores.

“We see Hurricanes as a wonderful complement to our Buffalo’s Cafe and Buffalo’s Express brands, and look forward to expanding the brand’s footprint in both new and existing markets through our extensive franchisee network,” Andy Wiederhorn, president and CEO of Fat Brands, said in a statement. “Their new fast-casual brand Hurricane BTW has a significant franchise-development pipeline and will nicely diversify the company into more fast-casual venues.”

Hurricane Grill is a beach-themed full-service concept that specializes in chicken wings in dozens of flavors.  The majority of its restaurants are franchised.

The fast-casual spinoff currently has three open units, with an aggressive franchising program underway.

Fat Brands has been on an acquisition tear since filing for a simplified public stock offering known as a mini IPO. In September, it acquired the budget steakhouse brands Ponderosa and Bonanza, which collectively extend to 110 locations.

Fatburger is the company’s second-largest business, with about 72 units.

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