Financing

Why platform companies are buying so many small chains

A Deeper Dive: Kelly Roddy, CEO of Saladworks owner Woworks, joins the podcast to talk about mergers and acquisitions and the advantages of platform companies.

Why is it better for small restaurant chains to band together?

This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast A Deeper Dive features Kelly Roddy, CEO of the brand platform company Woworks.

Woworks operates several restaurant concepts, including Saladworks, Garbanzo Mediterranean, Frutta Bowls, Simple Greek, Barberitos and ZEats.

It is one of a growing number of platform companies that collect small concepts, and these companies have been gobbling up a lot of brands lately. The idea is that they can get stronger buying power and therefore cheaper prices for franchisees, at least in theory.

They can also invest in technology. We asked Kelly about that and how it works.

We also ask about the market for mergers and acquisitions. Woworks is apparently in the market for a new chain and we talk about that, what the market is like, what kinds of companies they’re looking for and how they could fit in.

We’re talking brand collecting on A Deeper Dive, so please check it out.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe on Spotify.

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

Financing

Restaurant buyers have little interest in actual restaurants

The Bottom Line: There is a clear line in what restaurant chain buyers want right now. They want franchisors, not the restaurants themselves.

Workforce

Want happy restaurant employees? How's a relocation to Sweden sound?

Reality Check: New research shows how far the U.S. industry still has to go in improving its image—and what a difference an upgrade could make when it comes to retention.

Financing

Most customers think restaurants are getting expensive

The Bottom Line: A pair of studies by Revenue Management Solutions provide a sobering look at the views of consumers on restaurant prices and their dining habits.

Trending

More from our partners