Great Harvest Holdings LLC has won an investment from an affiliate of NewSpring to grow its bakery cafes.
The Dillon, Montana-based chain announced an investment from NewSpring Franchise on Tuesday, saying it will help fund franchise development, supply chain and marketing to accelerate growth.
No details were offered, and the company did not immediately respond to requests for more information.
It’s the fourth transaction out of NSF II, a dedicated investment fund of NewSpring Franchise. Other investments include franchise concepts like Duck Donuts, Federal Donuts & Chicken and Shake Smart.
Founded in 1976, the fast-casual Great Harvest has about 175 locations across the U.S. offering freshly baked bread, baked goods, sandwiches, salads, soups and breakfast dishes. It began as a bakery, but in the 2000s expanded to include cafes, which appeal to a broader range of consumers across multiple dayparts, said Mike Ferretti, Great Harvest CEO.
“Partnering with NewSpring Franchise is the perfect next step, as their impressive track record of elevating and expanding franchise concepts, coupled with their deep investment and operational experience, will be critical to driving our continued success,” said Ferretti in a statement.
In addition to the financial support, NewSpring General Partner Patrick Sugrue, and NewSpring Franchise Partner Satya Ponnuru will join Great Harvest’s board of directors.
“Great Harvest is a leader in the bakery and café category, establishing its brand and customer value proposition with a high-quality product offering,” said Sugrue in a statement. “It represents exactly the type of company we seek to apply our proven approach to building beloved, multi-unit brands.
“Our access to top talent and experience in the franchise restaurant industry will allow Great Harvest to accelerate growth from an already strong foundation,” Sugrue added.
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