Financing

Modern Market acquired by private-equity firm

Investors say the chain's healthful fare is the way 'modern restaurant-goers prefer to eat.'

Modern Market, a 28-unit fast-casual chain focused on healthy meals under $10, has been acquired by a private-equity group that holds a stake in the Lemonade Restaurant Group.

Details of the transaction with Butterfly Equity, a Los Angeles-based investment firm focused on the food sector, were not disclosed.

“We believe Modern Market’s offering is increasingly representative of the way that modern restaurant-goers prefer to eat,” Dustin Beck, one of Butterfly’s founders, said in a statement.

The acquisition will fuel the brand’s expansion, Modern Market executives said.

Anthony Pigliacampo and Rob McColgan founded the Denver-based chain in 2009 and remain co-CEOs. Modern Market serves bowls, sandwiches, salads and brick-oven pizzas, with a focus on special diets and healthful choices.

Butterfly invests in agriculture, food and beverage products, food distribution and foodservice. The firm invested in Lemonade Restaurant Group in 2016.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Emerging Brands

Supreme Dumplings founder launches manufacturing plant to spread the joy of xiao long bao

Multi-concept operator Brandon Ting brought his soup dumplings to the National Restaurant Show with the goal of growing a wholesale and retail business.

Financing

Which restaurant sectors can justify their unit growth?

The Bottom Line: Fast-casual chicken chains’ aggressive growth may be creating some pressure on volumes. But there appears to be plenty of demand for coffee chains.

None

Why am I loading up on protein?

Food Writer’s Diary: Just because you know a trend is silly doesn’t mean you’re not susceptible to it

Trending

More from our partners