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California Pizza Kitchen

Financing

California Pizza Kitchen to be acquired by investor group

 By Joe Guszkowski on Dec. 16, 2025

Consortium Brand Partners, Convive Brands, Eldridge Industries and Aurify Brands plan to lead the casual-dining chain into a new era of growth, with an eye on franchising and retail.

Financing

California Pizza Kitchen to be sold to investor group, report says

 By Joe Guszkowski on Nov. 21, 2025

A group led by Consortium Brand Partners is set to acquire the casual-dining pizza chain for less than $300 million, Reuters reported.

Food

California Pizza Kitchen's salad lineup gets a refresh with trendsetting additions

By Patricia Cobe on Jun. 25, 2025

Behind the Menu: The casual-dining chain may have “pizza” in its name, but since salads account for 20% of sales, the time was right to innovate with new formats, ingredients and presentations.

Marketing

California Pizza Kitchen hopes a fake rebrand will get people talking

By Joe Guszkowski on Mar. 27, 2025

The casual-dining chain created some buzz this week by unveiling a bold new look, only to reverse course with the help of actress and superfan Busy Philipps.

Technology

Virtual Dining Concepts believes it has another hit with Man Vs Fries

By Joe Guszkowski on Jan. 17, 2025

The brand known for giant, fry-stuffed burritos is generating more revenue per store than any of the company’s other brands and could reach thousands of locations this year.

Financing

California Pizza Kitchen begins franchising in the U.S.

By Joe Guszkowski on Nov. 11, 2024

The casual-dining pizza chain hopes to add about 75 domestic locations via franchising over the next five years starting with an operator in Nevada.

Operations

California Pizza Kitchen looks to sell stores to franchisees

By Joe Guszkowski on Apr. 24, 2023

The refranchising program is the latest step in the chain’s efforts to run fewer of its own restaurants.

Leadership

California Pizza Kitchen names new CEO amid C-suite shakeup

By Joe Guszkowski on Dec. 01, 2022

CEO Jim Hyatt is out, along with longtime culinary chief Brian Sullivan and two others. Board member Jeff Warne was named CEO and president.

Food

CPK breaks into new menu territory with its California-style burger

By Patricia Cobe on Oct. 04, 2022

It took an internal mind shift, plus the addition of griddles and a couple of SKUs, for Chef Brian Sullivan to perfectly execute the new West Coast Burger.

Food

California Pizza Kitchen menus its first-ever burger—and rewards guests who order it

By Patricia Cobe on Sep. 29, 2022

Throughout October, there’s free stuff for CPK customers who opt for the new West Coast Burger instead of pizza.

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