FIREHOUSE SUBS acquired by RESTAURANT BRANDS
Context
Restaurant Brands International Inc. agreed to acquire Firehouse Subs in an all-cash transaction, integrating the sandwich specialist into its QSR powerhouse portfolio. Structure encompasses full ownership of Firehouse Restaurant Group Inc., funded by cash and debt, pending regulatory nods. Strategic fit lies in complementary sandwich category exposure, mirroring RBI's playbook of high-quality, franchise-led growth with aligned guest profiles and innovation focus. Firehouse's purpose-driven model (rooted in firefighter heritage and public safety donations) enhances RBI's community ethos, while U.S./Canada density enables digital acceleration, franchise recruitment, and international pilots. Post-deal priorities emphasize unit economics optimization, brand awareness lift, and global expansion leveraging RBI's network.
FIREHOUSE SUBS, which reported an EBITDA margin of LOGIN in 2021, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of LOGIN, representing a LOGIN to the average currently observed in the Retail & Consumer sector (11.0x).
Note that this data is based on contribution from our growing community, composed of M&A and Private Equity professionals, and has been verified by our team to ensure its accuracy.
-> Deep-dive in Retail & Consumer market trends
Target
Firehouse Subs, founded in 1994 in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, by brothers and former firefighters Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, specializes in hot, hearty submarine sandwiches. The menu features steamed meats and cheeses on toasted sub rolls, including signature items like the Hook & Ladder®, alongside chopped salads, chili, soups, and sides. Prepared with high-quality ingredients, these offerings emphasize flavor, portion size, and drive-thru convenience. As a fast-growing player in the $30 billion U.S. QSR sandwich category, the brand operates approximately 1,200 restaurants across 46 U.S. states, Canada, and Puerto Rico, with 97% franchised (2025) and strong unit economics yielding 3.5-year average paybacks. Strategically, it focuses on community engagement and menu innovation to sustain #1 food quality ratings.
Ent. Value
LOGIN
Equity Value
LOGIN
Multiples
EV / Revenue
LOGIN
EV / EBITDA
LOGIN
EV / EBIT
LOGIN
Historical Financials (USD)
Similar deals in Retail & Consumer
| Date | Acquirer | Target | Country | Sector | Deal Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/2022 | JACK IN THE BOX | DEL TACO HOLDINGS | UNITED STATES | Hospitality & Leisure | Jack in the Box Inc. finalized its acquisition of Del Taco Restaurants, Inc. via a merger agreement, securing full ownership and delisting Del Taco from NASDAQ. Synergies stem from overlapping guest demographics, menu overlaps in variety-driven comfort foods, and aligned cultures prioritizing innovation and value—enabling shared investments in digital platforms, technology, and franchise development |
| 12/2021 | KKR | PUREGYM | UNITED STATES | Hospitality & Leisure | PureGym has secured a £300 million equity investment from KKR, marking a significant milestone in the group’s international expansion and digital development strategy. KKR joins the capital structure as a significant minority investor alongside the majority owner, Leonard Green & Partners (LGP), and the company’s management team |
| 11/2021 | SUN COMMUNITIES | PARK HOLIDAYS | UNITED KINGDOM | Hospitality & Leisure | Sun Communities has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Park Holidays UK, the second-largest operator of holiday parks in the UK, marking the company's entry into the British market for leisure and vacation homes |
| 10/2021 | PAI PARTNERS | EUROPEAN CAMPING GROUP (ECG) | FRANCE | Hospitality & Leisure | PAI Partners acquired a majority stake in European Camping Group from a consortium including Carlyle, Montefiore Investment, and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP). The deal was backed by an Ares unitranche financing |
| 09/2021 | BAIN CAPITAL | GAIL’S (BREAD HOLDINGS) | UNITED KINGDOM | Hospitality & Leisure | Bain Capital, in partnership with EBITDA Investments, has acquired a controlling stake in Bread Holdings from Risk Capital Partners (RCP) and other shareholders. The strategic rationale is to capitalize on GAIL’s post-pandemic sales rebound and its proven "neighborhood" model, which saw profitability hit record levels despite the UK’s lockdowns |
| 07/2021 | FAT BRANDS | GLOBAL FRANCHISE GROUP | UNITED STATES | Hospitality & Leisure | FAT Brands Inc. completed its largest-ever acquisition by purchasing Global Franchise Group from Serruya Private Equity and Lion Capital. The deal added Round Table Pizza, Great American Cookies, Hot Dog on a Stick, Marble Slab Creamery, and Pretzelmaker plus Atlanta manufacturing, doubling FAT's portfolio to 2,000+ units with $1 |
| 04/2021 | INFRAVIA CAPITAL | SANDAYA | FRANCE | Hospitality & Leisure | Sendaya, a specialist in outdoor accommodation with more than 33 campsites under management, will welcome Infravia as its new majority shareholder alongside two new minority shareholders, following Apax Partners' decision to sell its shares |
| 09/2020 | BUFFALO GRILL | COURTEPAILLE | France | Hospitality & Leisure | In September 2020, Buffalo Grill acquired its competitor Courtepaille out of receivership, a legal process initiated in July 2020. Courtepaille's financial distress, which pre-dated the pandemic, was severely exacerbated by the COVID-19 lockdown and the preceding french social crisis, culminating in its inability to secure a state-guaranteed loan |
| 09/2020 | VENDIS CAPITAL | POKAWA | France | Hospitality & Leisure | Vendis Capital, a Belgian private equity fund, has taken a minority stake in the fast-casual restaurant chain Pokawa to accelerate its ambitious growth strategy. The founders, Maxime Buhler and Samuel Carré, selected Vendis Capital from a pool of twelve potential investors, citing a strong alignment on the company's vision and development path |
| 07/2020 | TOWERBROOK | AZZURRI GROUP | United Kingdom | Hospitality & Leisure | TowerBrook Capital Partners has acquired the restaurant operator Azzurri Group in a pre-packaged administration deal. The transaction was necessitated by the severe financial distress Azzurri faced due to the operational shutdown mandated during the coronavirus pandemic |
REFERENCES
Valuation range: EV 1b - 4b USD
Revenue range: 750M - 1.3b USD
EBITDA range: 50M - 100M USD
Note: This page provides detailed data on a private equity M&A transaction. Detailed and exact financial metrics for the acquisition of FIREHOUSE SUBS by RESTAURANT BRANDS are reserved for mynth community members. Register for free to unlock full data.
Authors: verified mynth contributor (mynth data is contributed by M&A / PE professionals and systematically cross-verified with private deal documents and official press releases).
Press release: view release
Target: firehouse subs
Acquirer: restaurant brands