The acquisition by private equity firm Roark Capital is one of the biggest acquisitions in fast food history, following Inspire Brands’ $11.3bn purchase of Dunkin’ in October 2020. Roark also owns Inspire.
Following a year of growth in 2022, the American arm of the global bakery café franchise has opened another 20 new outlets and finalised 66 new franchise agreements, with almost 50 cafés in various stages of construction.
Founded at the height of the financial crisis in 2008, the UK cake retailer is no stranger to unprecedented challenges – evident in its strong annual results, which saw online sales grow by 41%.
Nothing Bundt Cakes (NBC) – a portfolio company of private equity firm Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (LLCP) – has expanded its corporate footprint with the acquisition of six San Diego Bakeries outlets.
Entrepreneur Magazine’s annual Franchise 500 ranking included 17 US bakery franchises in total, with Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s in the top 100 overall.
UK franchise development consultancy World Franchise Associates (WFA) has signed an agreement with US company Great Harvest Bakery to extend its footprint into Europe, the Gulf, UK, Japan and Canada.