In The News
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 21, 2008 |
Contact: Katie Magers katiem@fransmart.com ( 214) 520 7152 |
BRAND CAPITAL PURCHASES SONOMA CHICKEN COOP
February 21, 2008, San Jose, CA – Brand Capital, a private equity firm focused on emerging fast-casual and quick-service restaurant brands, announced today that it has completed the purchase of Sonoma Chicken Coop, a four-unit Northern California fast-casual chain. Brand Capital intends to expand with new corporate restaurants throughout the San Francisco, San Jose and Washington, DC media markets and franchise other select markets around the country.
Sonoma Chicken Coop was founded in 2002 by Jeff Starbeck, Bob and Bonnie Ray and MacKenzie Davis in downtown San Jose, California. It was named for the world-famous California wine region and also their signature rotisserie chicken menu items. Since the original store opened over five years ago, the fast-casual restaurants, which range in size from 4,500-8,000 square feet, have enjoyed high average unit volumes of over $4.5 million per store.
“The founders of Sonoma Chicken Coop created an amazing concept that generates higher volumes than any other fast casual restaurant chain I’ve ever seen and we are very excited about the growth potential of this concept,” said Dan Rowe, a partner in Brand Capital and CEO of Fransmart, which will manage Sonoma’s franchise development. “Sonoma Chicken Coop is broadly appealing, ideally positioned in the higher end of the fast casual restaurant space, perfect for conversions and succeeds nicely in both A and B markets and locations,”
Sonoma Chicken Coop serves a broadly appealing menu of pizza, pasta, entrée salads, sandwiches on house-made bread, steaks, ribs, fish, rotisserie chicken as well as chef quality appetizers and desserts. All restaurants serve alcohol. Restaurants have a 50/50 lunch/dinner split and a $22 check average.
“We are excited about this next step in our expansion,” says Jeff Starbeck of Sonoma Chicken Coop. “Sonoma has always been a popular and successful restaurant due to our reasonable pricing and generous portions —we believe Brand Capital has the restaurant expertise and insight that will take the brand to the next level.”
The restaurant has garnered multi-year rankings in the Best of Silicon Valley for Best American Restaurant, Best ‘Dazzle for Dimes’ and Best Fondue.
About Brand Capital
Brand Capital, LLC is a private equity firm focused exclusively on control acquisitions in the restaurant sector. Brand Capital fills the gap between angel investors and institutional capital by targeting emerging fast-casual and quick-service concepts with five to one hundred units that are well positioned for significant growth. For more information, please visit www.brandcap.com
