acquisitions

Financing

Krispy Kreme sells its remaining stake in Insomnia Cookies

The doughnut chain, which is in cost-cutting mode after a tough start to 2025, has sold its remaining interest for $75 million and will use the funds to pay down debt.

Financing

How Dave's Hot Chicken became a $1B brand in 8 years

The Week in Restaurants: This week’s restaurant news discussion podcast features a look at the sale of the chicken chain to Roark Capital, and a discussion of McDonald’s Snack Wrap.

The fast-casual sandwich chain plans to move forward with its remaining 25 units that are open and "stable" under the new ownership as the bankruptcy winds down.

The three-unit Utah-based bakery-cafe chain brings fine-dining-level talent into a scalable concept known for speed of service.

The Bottom Line: More than half of the private-equity firm’s restaurant chains shrunk last year, including Arby’s, Subway and Sonic. And only six of its chains, not counting Dave’s, grew more than average.

The Bottom Line: The private-equity firm just bought its 21st restaurant chain in Dave’s Hot Chicken. It remains a close second to giant McDonald’s in terms of total sales. When will it exit an investment?

The private-equity firm has taken a stake in the chicken chain and the two are talking about a “potential extraordinary transaction” as an investor or financier, increasing the chances of a sale.

The fast-casual chain went from parking-lot popup to 10-digit deal in eight years. As the "rock star" in the private-equity firm's deep restaurant portfolio, Dave's executives say they are driving toward a potential IPO.

As the fast-casual Dave's moves into its next level of growth with a $1 billion private-equity deal, some see an IPO in its future. But can the chain maintain the magic that brought it this far?

The fast-food restaurant chain operator said it keeps its “eyes open” to buy another chain, arguing that its size and scale matter more than ever. But it would be “very selective.”

  • Page 3