ZOE’S KITCHEN
Acquired by
CAVA GROUP
ZOE’S KITCHEN acquired by CAVA GROUP
Context
In a definitive move to consolidate the Mediterranean fast-casual segment, Cava Group has agreed to acquire Zoe’s Kitchen. The deal is structured as a public-to-private (P2P) acquisition. This merger will create a combined entity with 327 restaurants across 24 states, establishing the clear market leader in the category.The acquisition is being financed through a substantial equity investment led by Act III Holdings, the investment vehicle of Ron Shaich (founder of Panera Bread), with participation from The Invus Group and existing Cava investors. This transaction effectively serves as a strategic turnaround play; Cava intends to apply its superior digital infrastructure and innovation-led management style to the extensive physical footprint of Zoe’s Kitchen, which had recently struggled with declining same-store sales and net losses.
ZOE’S KITCHEN, which reported an EBITDA margin of LOGIN in 2017, 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 (11.5x).
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.
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Target
Zoe’s Kitchen Inc. is a prominent American fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, the company operates a vast network of approximately 260 units across 20 states. Its menu focuses on fresh, "better-for-you" options including salads, pitas, and grilled entrees, catering to the growing consumer demand for healthy and convenient dining alternatives. Regarding its market positioning, Zoe’s Kitchen is a sector leader in the Mediterranean fast-casual category by unit count. Despite its significant physical footprint, the company recently faced operational headwinds, navigating a challenging environment marked by increased competition in delivery and discounting. Its business model is primarily based on company-owned restaurant operations, which allows for centralized quality control but exposes the firm to higher fixed-costs and margin sensitivity during periods of fluctuating same-store sales.
Ent. Value
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Equity Value
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Multiples
EV / Revenue
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EV / EBITDA
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EV / EBIT
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Historical Financials (USD)
Other operations with ZOE’S KITCHEN
REFERENCES
Valuation range: EV 300M - 700M USD
EBITDA range: 10M - 30M USD
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Authors: mynth contributor (mynth data is contributed by M&A / PE professionals and systematically cross-verified with private deal documents and official press releases).