The firm has $3 billion in capital under management, raised through three successively larger private-equity funds. www.roarkcapital.com, Roark 37th Floor For more information visit www.roarkcapital.com. Auntie Anne's menu includes hand-rolled soft pretzels baked in-store, Pretzel Nuggets, beverages (including signature lemonade) and Pretzel Dogs. Founder & Chief Executive Officer. Driven Brands manages a family of automotive companies including Maaco, Meineke Car Care Centers, CARSTAR North America, 1-800 Radiator & A/C, which collectively generate annual system revenues of more than $2.1 billion. Roark Capital Group. New York, NY 10022 Following Roark Capital Group's acquisition of Arby's in 2011, Okeson remained with Arby's as General Counsel while assuming additional senior management responsibilities. Although CKE has debtthe company refinanced $1 billion last yearAronson says its very manageable. Roark Capital Group is an Atlanta-based private equity firm that specializes in franchise, brand management, environmental services and marketing services companies with attractive growth prospects. Roark Portfolio Employees Assistance Fund. None were restaurants. Franchise Systems, Aronson interacted regularly with two other executives, Steven Romaniello and Geoff Hill, who would later fill important operating and managing roles at Focus Brands and Roark. US Sports Camps offering spans 19 different physical sports, Esports, and academic programs for campers ranging from 6 to 18 years old. Inspire Brands, Inc. is an American holding company and the owner and franchisor of the Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic Drive-In, Jimmy John's, Mister Donut, Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins restaurant chains. Site Map | Search | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility, Roark Meineke provides all regularly scheduled maintenance services, along with repair and replacement of vehicle components. Stronger U is a digital, personalized nutrition-based health coaching services brand. He follows what he believes.. By the time Focus Brands--an arm of Atlanta-based private equity firm, Roark Capital Group--took over the company in 2006 they had sold or closed all but one franchise. "Arby's Restaurant Group" redirects here. 1-800 Radiator is the largest franchised automotive parts distributor in North America. Who is the CEO of Sonic? Roark Capital Group acquired 81.5% of Arby's Restaurant Group in July 2011 and is now a majority-owner of Inspire Brands. AmeriSpec is a leading franchisor and provider of residential and commercial real estate inspection services. See Neal K Aronson's compensation, career history, education, & memberships. Suite 2500 Elane served as Group President of Kimberly-Clark International and Global President of Kimberly . ", Ezra Field, Senior Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at Roark, said, "ICWG's quick conveyor car wash model provides high-quality washes at an affordable price point that is attractive to today's consumers who demand convenience and value. A winwinwin approach leads to a positive business environment where all stakeholders customers, employees, franchisees, strategic partners, service providers, management and shareholders share in the growth and success of our businesses. It was the public. Roark Capital Group serves customers in the United States. [15], On August 16, 2018, The Wendy's Company announced that it sold its 12.3% stake in Inspire Brands back to the company for $450 million, which included a 38% premium over the stake's most recent valuation. In 1996 Take 5 designed the first "5 Minute Drive-Thru Oil Change" location. The firings came After the hotel business was sold, one of Aronson's mentors, Odyssey Partners cofounder Jack Nash, encouraged him to try his hand at private equity. Started in Jupiter, FL in 1988 by husband and wife team Jack and Claire Miller, Miller's Ale House is a sports-themed full service restaurant that offers an extensive menu of freshly prepared food and top-quality drinks. Were just not big believers in shortcuts, Aronson says. US Sports Camps is the nations leading youth sports camp company, serving more than 100,000 campers across 1,200+ camps in 48 states. Founded in 1934, Carvel is the leading manufacturer of branded ice cream cakes in the United States and a top producer of premium soft-serve ice cream. Founded in 1972, Meineke is an automotive aftermarket industry pioneer and leading provider of repair and maintenance services. Jimmy still owns 35%. The private-equity firm helped turn around Arby's after buying a majority stake in 2011. At Roark, that patience is being tested with Arbys. Our Core Values have always guided the ways we support our people, businesses, and community, and guide us in how we Invest in Good. Merry Maids is a leading franchisor and provider of home cleaning services. Cheesecake opted to trade 200,000 shares of preferred stock to Roark for $200 million, Bojangles makes no bones about its future, Pollo Tropical starts the year off with more customers and better profits, For Wendy's, keeping pace with competitors is harder than it looks, Jack in the Box reaches a 'turning point' in its bid for growth, Chevys Fresh Mex owner adds 2 more brands to portfolio. Rating. Culver's is a family-favorite restaurant known for their ButterBurgers, Fresh Frozen Custard & Wisconsin Cheese Curds. www.roarkcapital.com. In the announcement, ServiceMaster says: "The transaction will position the . "With this partnership, we have access to world-class technology, purchasing power, operational support and resources that will enable us to accelerate our growth and success.". Phone (212) 806-6000 The moves largely undo Roarks $200 million equity investment in Cheesecake back in April 2020, when the pandemic was just beginning. Theres just one distinction: Two dozen black-framed notices of the private equity firms acquisitions dot the walls along the narrow sides of the room. We look first at the brand and the company, he says. Roark has plenty of capital now for its companies needs and to make additional acquisitions, but Aronson can see a fourth private equity fund down the road. CKE is one of the world's largest franchisors and operators of quick-service restaurants under the Carls Jr. and Hardees brand banners. We then focus our time on what are those three or four key strategic initiatives for that business., Nash, who died in 2008, passed on several lessons to Aronson, one of the biggest being that the best investments require great patience. The securities filing states that Aronson will have the discretion to manage the shares as he sees fit. We are delighted to be a part of the Roark family. Franchisees trust in the owners rose dramatically. RB American is the largest Arby's franchisee, operating 370 restaurants across 9 states. They are like the Warren Buffett of restaurants.. 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In the book, the character doesnt bow to conventional wisdom and is seen as an authentic innovator. Take 5 CEO Marc Graham, who headed Take 5 Oil Change as CEO since 2013 and has more than 40 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket, will lead the Driven Brands Quick Lube division. We want to partner with entrepreneurs and executives who share this vision. Founded in 1983, Jimmy John's offers high-quality sandwiches with rapid preparation. 540 Madison Ave In 2002, Massage Envy created a completely new category in the wellness industry and remains the industry leader in providing professional and affordable services that promote well-being through total body care. Founded in 1999, KE Camps is the leading operator of day camps for country clubs, North Italia is a modern interpretation of Italian cooking in the upscale casual dining segment, offering a variety of dishes that are handmade from scratch daily. Roark Capital Group added another brand to its wide-ranging franchise portfolio with the acquisition October 1 of residential and commercial restoration and cleaning services company. Neal K Aronson is Managing Partner/Founder at Roark Capital Group. "We are actively expanding our footprint through the strategic acquisition of top-performing, complementary auto aftermarket services companies," said Jonathan Fitzpatrick, CEO of Driven Brands. The Cheesecake Factory is an iconic casual dining brand with best-in-class service and high-quality, made-from-scratch food across a diverse menu with over 250 items. Winsight is a leading B2B information services company focused on the food and beverage industry, providing insight and market intelligence to business leaders in every channel consumers buy food and beverage convenience stores, grocery retailing, restaurants and noncommercial foodservice through media, events, data products, advisory services, and trade shows. Founded in Germany in 1965, the Company has solidified its position as the international market leader, developing an extensive network of more than 750 car wash locations across Europe and more than 100 car wash locations in the U.S. ICWG's focus on express-service style operations appeals to a broad base of consumers seeking a quick and high quality wash at an affordable price. That's because we've stayed true to our core beliefs, our approach to investing and our commitment to community. Private-equity firm Roark Capital Group, which owns Atkins, is gearing up to seek a buyer for the low-carbohydrate-diet pioneer, according to people familiar with the matter. The brand was named a Nations Restaurant News Hot Concept in 2016. How are the unit-level economics? Fax (212) 518-2028 Schlotzsky's is a chain of quick casual restaurants offering made-to-order sandwiches, soups, salads and pizza. Basecamp Fitness is a growing network of fitness studios featuring high-intensity and high-energy workout sessions. Divisions Maintenance Group is a tech-based provider of integrated facilities maintenance services for prominent retail chains, pharmacies, grocery stores, warehouses, distribution centers, and REITs across more than 46,000 locations in all 50 states. Wendy's owns about 18.5 percent of Arby's, with their stake valued at around $325.9 . Our goal is to be the preferred capital source for private equity solutions by earning the respect of everyone we interact with. Roark NEW YORK OFFICE 540 Madison Ave 37th Floor New York, NY 10022 Phone (212) 806-6000 Fax (212) 518-2028 www.roarkcapital.com Roark ATLANTA OFFICE 1180 Peachtree Street NE Suite 2500 Atlanta, Georgia 30309 Phone (404) 591-5200 Fax (404) 591-5201 www.roarkcapital.com. Today the only other restaurantchain Golden Gate owns besides Red Lobster is California Pizza Kitchen, but their portfolio includes lots of non-restaurant companies, including Eddie Bauer, Payless, and J. Jill. I called Neal and said, What have you gotten me into? Romaniello says. | Roark is an Atlantabased private equity firm with $35 billion in assets under management. It was founded by Jimmy John Liautaud in 1983 and is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. Take 5 Oil Change represents the 5th acquisition for Driven Brands in the year since Roark Capital acquired the business, expanding the collective brands' footprint to more than 2,000 locations in the U.S. About Driven BrandsDriven Brands, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the parent company of North America's leading automotive aftermarket brands across four distinct verticals: Repair & Maintenance, housing Meineke Car Care Centers and Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops; Paint & Collision, housing Maaco, CARSTAR North America and Drive N Style; Distribution, housing 1-800-Radiator & A/C; and Quick Lube, housing Pro Oil Change, Econo Lube N' Tune, Driven Florida Lubes and Take 5 Oil Change. In the U.S., ICWG operates under the banners of Car Wash USA Express, Goo-Goo, Zippy's, Car Wash Express, and Supersonic Car Wash. ICWG is committed to delivering consistent wash quality for the customer while minimizing the impact on the environment. Cheesecake opted to trade 200,000 shares of preferred stock to Roark for $200 million. Here's What It Said, Supporting New Restaurant Franchisees, By Experience Level, The Power of Transformation in the Restaurant World, Fast-Food Chains Turn Focus to Better In-App Experiences, How to Effectively Market a Restaurant Anniversary. Suite 2500 Aronson says the firm talks about the core values and lives them out every day, and that theyre on laminated cards given to each of Roarks 45 employees. Take 5 Oil Change is the market leader in speed and quality, and is the fastest growing quick lube chain in the country. Fax (404) 591-5201 What are the characteristics of that concept? Our largest sector, food and restaurants, encompasses investments in brands such as: Inspire Brands (the owner of Arbys, Baskin Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin, Jimmy Johns, and Sonic), Nothing Bundt Cakes, CKE Restaurants (the owner of Carls Jr and Hardees), FOCUS Brands (the owner of Auntie Annes Pretzels, Carvel Ice Cream, Cinnabon, Jamba, McAlisters Deli, Moes Southwest Grill, and Schlotzskys), Millers Ale House, Culvers, The Cheesecake Factory (the owner of North Italia and Flower Child), Jim N Nicks BBQ, and previously Corner Bakery, Il Fornaio, Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill and Wingstop. If the series of financial moves are completed as expected on June 15, Roarks interest in Cheesecake will be reduced to 2.4 million shares of common stock, or 4.6% of total shares outstanding. The following year, Focus Brands was formed to hold Roarks foodservice acquisitions. Visit Website. The things that were wrong we saw as fixable, as long as we had time, Aronson says, noting that a private company has that luxury. He refuses to follow fads, trends, or popularity. Anon { relativeTimeResolver(1660511260487) }} LIVE Points 3. [10][19] The deal closed on October 18, 2019. Branson, MO 65616-2060. In 2006, Brinker sold the company ( but still owns Maggiano's ), and Corner Bakery Cafe began franchising a year later. . The Chicago-based company did not disclose terms of the deal or the identity of the investor group. Roark Capital Group finalized its deal to acquire Buffalo Wild Wings for $2.9 billion on February 5. Massage Envy is the leading provider of therapeutic massage and skincare services in the U.S. Dunkin is famous for its combination of high-quality coffees, espresso beverages, baked goods, and breakfast sandwiches served all day with fast, friendly service. ATLANTA, Oct. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta -based private equity firm focused on multi-unit consumer businesses, announced today that its affiliate has closed on the . How Roark Capital's Neal Aronson won over franchisees to build a $54 billion fast-food juggernaut with brands like Arby's, Dunkin', and Buffalo Wild Wings. Luther is Arbys chairman. Terms of . Roark Capital Group Inc. operates as a private equity firm. Most compete in the quick-service sector, far downmarket from Cheesecakes turf. For more information visit www.take5oilchange.com. Roark prides itself on partnering with entrepreneurs and executives who share this vision of growth and success across all stakeholders. International Car Wash Group is the world's largest local car wash company, with operations in the U.S., Europe and Australia. [14] In September 2018, Inspire had the 27-location R Taco reverted to the Rusty Taco name. Healthy Contributions (Self Esteem Brands), International Car Wash Group (Driven Brands), Seattle's Best International (FOCUS Brands), ServiceMaster Clean (ServiceMaster Brands), ServiceMaster Restore (ServiceMaster Brands), Streamline Brands (Youth Enrichment Brands), U.S. Roark has a history of creating jobs, providing opportunities, and helping people and companies realize their potential. refer to our Pet Valu is Canada's leading small-format specialty retailer of pet food and supplies, providing a wide selection of high quality pet products, together with friendly customer service and convenient store locations. New York, NY 10022 Related: Naf Naf Grill founder dies at 47, Greg Willman, left, who was named Naf Naf Grill CEO in May 2020, said in a statement: I am excited about the future of Naf Naf Grill and want to thank Roark for its support and positive contributions to the company.. McAlister's is a franchise chain of quick casual restaurants offering a variety of sandwiches, salads, soups, wraps and desserts. Pet Supermarket is the largest specialty retailer of pet food and pet-related supplies based in the southeastern US. Number 8860726. Jimmy John's is one of the largest sandwich chains in the US. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning), Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy, Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American. The brand offers one of the most innovative and diverse menus in the quick-service restaurant industry, with more than 30 unique sandwiches and 8 different types of protein. 2023 PitchBook. Nash had a tough exterior, but he was honest and off-the-chart smart, so he gave you great advice. He was also Roarks biggest early investor. 11.16.21 ROARK INVESTMENT Roark Capital Acquires Mathnasium READ MORE . Cheesecake will then repurchase the stock for $446.9 million. That is where this country has been built, because 65 percent of the job growth for 15 years leading up to the recession came from those people who built a store, then a second store, then a third.. . NEW YORK OFFICE Media ContactBrandi Neloms, Sr. Communications Manager[emailprotected] 704-644-8151, Cision Distribution 888-776-0942 from 8 AM - 9 PM ET. Inspire operates Support Centers in Atlanta, Oklahoma City, Champaign, Minneapolis, and Canton, Massachusetts. Inspire Brands is the franchisor and operator of the Arbys, Buffalo Wild Wings, Jimmy Johns, SONIC, Dunkin, and Baskin Robbins brands. Merry Maids is a leading franchisor and provider of home cleaning services. We learn a lot from every company we evaluate, and then as we work with the companies., Making an acquisition is just the ticket to play, he adds. No, Sonic is owned by Sega, who debuted the character in "Sonic The Hedgehog" for their Genesis console in 1991. Not knowing what to expect during the impending crisis, most restaurant companies scrambled to maximize their liquidity, fearful theyd have insufficient cash on hand to sustain operations as dining rooms were ordered to close and sales fell to a trickle. CARSTAR is the largest franchise network of automotive collision repair shops in North America. Affiliates of Roark Capital Group have sold the Dallas-based Corner Bakery Cafe brand to Pandya Restaurant Growth Brands LLC, the companies said Thursday. There were four CEOs in six years, a problem Aronson blames on previous ownership. Baskin-Robbins, the worlds largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, is known for its variety of 31 flavors of ice cream, along with their creative ice cream cakes, milkshakes, and ice cream sundaes. Our consumer products and services investments have included Driven Brands (the owner of ABRA, ATI, CARSTAR, International Car Wash Group, Maaco, Meineke, Take 5, Uniban, 1800 Radiator, Auto Glass Now, and others), ServiceMaster Brands (the owner of ServiceMaster Restore, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic, AmeriSpec, and Two Men and a Truck), Pet Supermarket, Pet Valu, Orangetheory Fitness, Massage Envy, Mathnasium, Primrose Schools, Self Esteem Brands (the owner of Anytime Fitness, Basecamp Fitness, The Bar Method, Waxing the City, and Stronger U), Fitness Connection, Youth Enrichment Brands (the owner of US Sports Camps, US Baseball Academy, i9 Sports, Streamline Brands and KE Camps), Great Expressions Dental Centers, and previously Atkins Nutritionals, Batteries Plus Bulbs, Drybar, FASTSIGNS, and US Franchise Systems. Atlanta, Georgia 30309 [23], On December 19, 2022, Inspire Brands announced that it had sold Rusty Taco to Gala Capital Partners, owner of Cicis Pizza, Dunn Brothers Coffee, and Mooyah. The firms first acquisition was Carvel in 2001 for $26 million. Founded in 2001, Roark Capital Group is a private equity firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. ATLANTA OFFICE Stronger U is a digital, personalized nutrition-based health coaching services brand. Later acquisitions were made with capital from the second and third investment funds. 1180 Peachtree Street NE As a private equity company, we will need to, and will divest companies, Aronson says. Aronson will surrender 47,517 of the common shares to Cheesecake in exchange for $10.4 million in cash. With this acquisition, Driven Brands continues to expand its Quick Lube division, which also includes Pro Oil Change and Driven Florida Lubes. Greenwood Village, CO. Leeds West Groups (LWG) was founded in 2009 by current CEO and Board Member Judd Shader and is . Driven Brands has more than 2,000 centers across North America, and combined, all businesses generate more than $2.1 billion in system sales. CKE is one of the world's largest franchisors and operators of quick-service restaurants under the Carls Jr. and Hardees brand banners. The transaction will apparently not cost Paul Ginsberg, Roark Capitals president, his seat on Cheesecakes board. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Fitness Connection is a leading player in the "High Value, Low Price (HVLP)" segment of the fitness industry. CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Driven Brands, a portfolio company of Roark Capital and the nation's leading automotive franchisor . Inspire Brands is the franchisor and operator of the Arbys, Buffalo Wild Wings, Jimmy Johns, SONIC, Dunkin, and Baskin Robbins brands. Waxing the City is a growing network of waxing studios with an emphasis on superior waxes, highly-trained staff, and compassionate customer service. These are very smart people, he says. In 1995, he helped launch U.S. Jamba is a category-leading smoothie and juice chain that offers a variety of high quality smoothies, juices, bowls and other products. An arm of Atlanta-based Roark Capital Group plans to buy ServiceMaster Brands for $1.55 billion within 30 to 60 days. Some investors, including university endowments and investment managers, have invested in all three, a sign of Roarks performance. In the multi-step deal spelled out in Mondays SEC filings, Roark will distribute 150,000 of its 200,000 preferred Cheesecake shares to three subsidiaries. Founded in 2003, i9 Sports is a leading franchisor of community-based, multi-sport leagues for children ages 3-14, serving over 3 million kids since inception. At Roark, we believe the best way to create value is to form a close partnership with outstanding operating executives and a value-added Board of Directors. In the early days, there were real synergies and reasons to put companies together in Focus, says Hill, who became Cinnabons president. Founded in 1988, U.S. Known as 'America's Bodyshop', Maaco is a leading provider of auto painting and light collision repair services. Divisions Maintenance Group is a tech-based provider of integrated facilities maintenance services for prominent retail chains, pharmacies, grocery stores, warehouses, distribution centers, and REITs across more than 46,000 locations in all 50 states. Fax (212) 518-2028 Cheesecake only franchises abroad, and on a limited basis, and it is positioned squarely in the upper echelon of casual dining. 1180 Peachtree Street NE Jimmy John's Franchise, LLC is an American franchised sandwich fast food restaurant chain owned by Inspire Brands. At Roark, we believe the best way to create value is to form a close partnership with outstanding operating executives and a value-added Board of Directors. Baseball Academy brings together college and high school coaches to provide camp programs to aspiring baseball and softball players across the United States. 540 Madison Ave In 2002, Massage Envy created a completely new category in the wellness industry and remains the industry leader in providing professional and affordable services that promote well-being through total body care. Contact Ron Ruggless at [emailprotected], /sites/all/themes/penton_subtheme_nrn/images/logos/footer.png. Who owns roark capital group? operator of swim schools for children of all ages, serving over 150,000 swimmers per year. That is part of our obligation to our investors.. The Big Take is the very best of Bloomberg's in-depth, original reporting from around the globe every day. Cinnabon is an American chain of bakeries known for their "World Famous Cinnamon Rolls.". All of those characteristics have helped turn Roark into one of the biggest influencers in the quick-service industry. Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm focused on franchise and consumer brands, announced today that its affiliate has acquired Driven Brands, the nation's leading franchise .