Terms of . Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning), Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy, Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American. The firm seeks to invest in consumer and business service companies in the restaurant, specialty retail, consumer and business services, and health, wellness, and beauty sectors. Inspire Brands is a privately owned equity company that falls under the management of Roark Capital Group . Aronson began his career in investment banking and private equity in New York, working for several firms, including hedge fund Odyssey Partners. regarding PitchBook Data's products. Baseball Academy brings together college and high school coaches to provide camp programs to aspiring baseball and softball players across the United States. Aronson launched the firm in 2001 and named it for Howard Roark, the protagonist architect in Ayn Rands novel, The Fountainhead. The brand offers one of the most innovative and diverse menus in the quick-service restaurant industry, with more than 30 unique sandwiches and 8 different types of protein. Founded in 1999, KE Camps is the leading operator of day camps for country clubs,
As chief financial officer at U.S. Responsibilities. Known as 'America's Bodyshop', Maaco is a leading provider of auto painting and light collision repair services. New York, NY 10022 In the book, the character doesnt bow to conventional wisdom and is seen as an authentic innovator. Description. 1180 Peachtree Street NE It was founded by Jimmy John Liautaud in 1983 and is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. Roark focuses on middle market investment opportunities through family-owned business transfers, management and corporate buyouts . ATLANTA OFFICE ORLANDO, Florida: Under recently reinstated CEO Bob Iger, Walt Disney Co. announced this week that it is cutting 7,000 jobs, or 3.6 percent of the company's global workforce, to save $5.5 billion in costs and seek to make its streaming business profitable. Basecamp Fitness is a growing network of fitness studios featuring high-intensity and high-energy workout sessions. HOME The Company provides a comprehensive suite of services primarily to retail, fleet, and industrial consumers. Please Founded in 1934, Carvel is the leading manufacturer of branded ice cream cakes in the United States and a top producer of premium soft-serve ice cream. Our team will review your remarks prior to publishing. We dont know when yet, but it will happen, he says. As of Dec 2022, the chains that the company owns and/or operates include: On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. We want to partner with entrepreneurs and executives who share this vision. Installation Made Easy coordinates the lead generation, sale, and installation of do-it-for-me home improvement projects on a nationwide basis on behalf of several of America's most respected home improvement and general merchandise "Big Box" retailers. None were restaurants. Neal Aronson founded Roark Capital in . [23], On December 19, 2022, Inspire Brands announced that it had sold Rusty Taco to Gala Capital Partners, owner of Cicis Pizza, Dunn Brothers Coffee, and Mooyah. Culver's is a family-favorite restaurant known for their ButterBurgers, Fresh Frozen Custard & Wisconsin Cheese Curds. Roark Capital is an Atlanta-based private equity firm. FOCUS Brands is the parent company of Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, McAlisters, Moe's Southwest Grill, Schlotzsky's and the franchisor of Seattle's Best Coffee on certain military bases and in certain international markets. Get todays need-to-know restaurant industry intelligence. ", "This is a tremendous opportunity for Take 5 Oil Change to grow our business to the next level," said Graham. Who is the CEO of Sonic? He refuses to follow fads, trends, or popularity. In the U.S., ICWG operates under the banners of Car Wash USA Express, Goo-Goo, Zippy's, Car Wash Express, and Supersonic Car Wash. ICWG is committed to delivering consistent wash quality for the customer while minimizing the impact on the environment. Weve been so busy we just havent had the time to put these up yet, says Neal Aronson, Roarks founder and managing partner, smiling down at the frames. Roark Capital founder Neal Aronson has helped the firm grow to include several premier quick-service companies, including CKE and Arbys. Our business services investments have included Divisions Maintenance Group, Driven Brands,ServiceMaster Brands, Installation Made Easy, and previously Solterra Recycling Solutions, Batteries Plus Bulbs, CyberCore, FASTSIGNS, Money Mailer, Peachtree Business Products, PSC, Quala, Waste Pro, and GFL Environmental. Take 5 Oil Change has a phenomenal brand, operating model, and team led by Marc. Driven Brands has more than 2,000 centers across North America, and combined, all businesses generate more than $2.1 billion in system sales. Previously, Okeson was a partner at Alston & Bird LLP in Atlanta, Georgia, where he spent 15 years specializing in corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions . By the time Focus Brands--an arm of Atlanta-based private equity firm, Roark Capital Group--took over the company in 2006 they had sold or closed all but one franchise. Related: Naf Naf Grill founder dies at 47, Greg Willman, left, who was named Naf Naf Grill CEO in May 2020, said in a statement: I am excited about the future of Naf Naf Grill and want to thank Roark for its support and positive contributions to the company.. Fax (212) 518-2028 Global network of franchises providing janitorial services, carpet cleaning, hard surface floor care, tile and grout cleaning, and upholstery cleaning. Roark Capital Group Inc. Roark Capital Group Inc. operates as a private equity firm. We look first at the brand and the company, he says. 1-800 Radiator is the largest franchised automotive parts distributor in North America. There was talent at Carvel that Cinnabon could benefit from, and talent at Cinnabon that Carvel could use.. (417) 334-3196. Like many urban fast-casual concepts , Corner Bakery has struggled during the pandemic and has seen sharp declines in earnings and revenues since March, according to Debtwire. New York, NY 10022 Roark Capital Group, that currently owns the Schlotzsky's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Moe's Southwest Grill, McAlister's Deli, Auntie Anne's and Jamba brands. Roark's current brands include Anytime Fitness, Arby's, Atkins Nutritionals, Batteries Plus Bulbs, CKE Restaurants (the owner of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's), Corner Bakery, Driven Brands (the owner of Maaco, Meineke, CARSTAR, 1-800-Radiator and Take 5 Oil Change), Drybar, FOCUS Brands (the owner of Auntie Anne's Pretzels, Carvel Ice Cream, Cinnabon, McAlister's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill, and Schlotzsky's), Great Expressions Dental Centers, Il Fornaio, Jimmy John's, Jim 'N Nick's, Massage Envy, Miller's Ale House, Naf Naf Grill, Orangetheory Fitness, Pet Retail Brands (the owner of Pet Supermarket and Pet Valu), Primrose Schools and Waxing the City. ATLANTA, July 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta -based private equity firm, announced today that an affiliate had acquired 65 unit Miller's Ale House . Elane served as Group President of Kimberly-Clark International and Global President of Kimberly . If the series of financial moves are completed as expected on June 15, Roark's interest in Cheesecake will be reduced to 2.4 million shares of common stock, or 4.6% of total shares outstanding. Inspire operates Support Centers in Atlanta, Oklahoma City, Champaign, Minneapolis, and Canton, Massachusetts. Do not sell my personal infoPrivacy PolicyContact UsRSS, Cheesecake Factory buys most of Roark's stake for $457M. operator of swim schools for children of all ages, serving over 150,000 swimmers per year. Meineke provides all regularly scheduled maintenance services, along with repair and replacement of vehicle components. ABRA is a leading network of franchised automotive collision repair shops. Fitness Connection is a leading player in the "High Value, Low Price (HVLP)" segment of the fitness industry. The firms first acquisition was Carvel in 2001 for $26 million. Neal K Aronson is Managing Partner/Founder at Roark Capital Group. Latest Addition to Driven Brands Strengthens Leadership Position in Automotive Aftermarket Services Industry. Suite 2500 Following Roark Capital Group's acquisition of Arby's in 2011, Okeson remained with Arby's as General Counsel while assuming additional senior management responsibilities. Roark focuses on franchised and multi-unit business models in the retail, restaurant, consumer and business services sectors. For over 30 years, Culvers guests have been treated to cooked-to-order food made with farm-fresh ingredients, served with a smile. ATLANTA OFFICE Furniture Medic is a global leader and franchisor in the furniture repair and restoration industry. Arbys is the largest drive-thru sandwich chain in the United States. Healthy Contributions helps employers, health insurers and partners engage and activate members to participate in wellness programs and reward healthy behaviors to change lives for better health. These are very smart people, he says. Roark NEW YORK OFFICE 540 Madison Ave 37th Floor New York, NY 10022 Phone (212) 806-6000 Fax (212) 518-2028 www.roarkcapital.com Later on, it was sold to the Roark Capital Group back in 2010. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. The Rohan Group of Companies, which owns Pandya Restaurant Growth Brands, had hoped to expand the Corner Bakery brand, but it remains unclear how the bankruptcy filing will impact those plans. The five times weekly e-newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on the latest industry news and additions to this website. Moe's Southwest Grill is the neighborhood burrito place offering flavorful Southwestern fare with a healthy twist. CARSTAR is the largest franchise network of automotive collision repair shops in North America. Pet Valu is Canada's leading small-format specialty retailer of pet food and supplies, providing a wide selection of high quality pet products, together with friendly customer service and convenient store locations. NEW YORK OFFICE The franchisees hated the company, says Romaniello, now a Roark managing partner. In October 2020, Pandya Restaurant Growth Brands, part of Rohan Group of Cos., owned by real estate investor and restaurant operator Jignesh Pandya of Newtown, Pennsylvania, acquired Corner Bakery . Ron Ruggless | Oct 29, 2020. The following year, Focus Brands was formed to hold Roarks foodservice acquisitions. Phone (404) 591-5200 Registered in England and Wales. Started in Jupiter, FL in 1988 by husband and wife team Jack and Claire Miller, Miller's Ale House is a sports-themed full service restaurant that offers an extensive menu of freshly prepared food and top-quality drinks. In 2006, Brinker sold the company ( but still owns Maggiano's ), and Corner Bakery Cafe began franchising a year later. . Now that you know who owns Wingstop, it probably doesn't come as a surprise that the original owner, Antonio Swad had been in the restaurant business since . Baseball Academy. Affiliates of Roark have acquired 55 franchise/multi-unit brands which generated approximately $21 billion in system revenues from 23,000 locations located in 50 states and 75 countries. Mathnasium is a leading franchisor of math learning centers with over 1,000 locations across 46 states and 12 countries. Romaniello became the operating partner, and Hill was added as vice president of franchising and foodservice. US Sports Camps is the nations leading youth sports camp company, serving more than 100,000 campers across 1,200+ camps in 48 states. Wingstop decided to go entirely public with an IPO (Initial Public Offering) of $19 for a share. ATLANTA & MEMPHIS, TENN. (BUSINESS WIRE) Roark Capital, an Atlanta-based private equity firm focused on investing in franchised and multi-location businesses, announced today that its affiliate has acquired ServiceMaster Brands.ServiceMaster Brands, one of the nation's leading providers of residential and commercial restoration and cleaning services, operates a network of over 1,850 . To help with Arbys, two industry prosJon Luther, Dunkin Brands chairman, and former Yorkshire Global Restaurants CEO Sid Feltensteinwere added as independent directors on Arbys board. We want CKE to reach their potential, just like all of Roarks other brands, he says. Furniture Medic is a global leader and franchisor in the furniture repair and restoration industry. Were just not big believers in shortcuts, Aronson says. When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type. By the end of the first year under Roark leadership, 21 new menu items were added. New York, NY 10022 In 2002, Massage Envy created a completely new category in the wellness industry and remains the industry leader in providing professional and affordable services that promote well-being through total body care. Before launching Roark Capital, he was the co-founder and CFO of US Franchise Systems, an owner and operator of hotel brands that increased its holdings more than 20-fold under his leadership. Baseball Academy brings together college and high school coaches to provide camp programs to aspiring baseball and softball players across the United States. The Denver company . Take 5 Oil Change represents the 5th acquisition for Driven Brands in the year since Roark Capital acquired the business, expanding the collective brands' footprint to more than 2,000 locations in the U.S. About Driven BrandsDriven Brands, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the parent company of North America's leading automotive aftermarket brands across four distinct verticals: Repair & Maintenance, housing Meineke Car Care Centers and Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops; Paint & Collision, housing Maaco, CARSTAR North America and Drive N Style; Distribution, housing 1-800-Radiator & A/C; and Quick Lube, housing Pro Oil Change, Econo Lube N' Tune, Driven Florida Lubes and Take 5 Oil Change. Driven Brands Holdings Inc, one of the largest U.S. auto services franchisers, is looking to raise as much as $760 million . Their total assets, however, are around $250 million. Most compete in the quick-service sector, far downmarket from Cheesecakes turf. Youth Enrichment Brands encompasses US Sports Camps, i9 Sports, Streamline Brands, and U.S. [11] Brown expected that Inspire would acquire additional chains in different segments. Nov 2009 - Dec 202213 years 2 months. Roark Capital-owned Driven Brands targets over $3 bln valuation in IPO. serving 10,000+ campers per year. The company, which was sold by Roark Capital Group to Pandya Restaurant Growth Brands in October 2020, has two locations in San Antonio, Texas. AmeriSpec is a leading franchisor and provider of residential and commercial real estate inspection services. Fax (404) 591-5201 Mar 30, 2016, 11:48 ET. Miscellaneous . The firm also provides the capital for operators to reach their goals. Jimmy John's Franchise, LLC is an American franchised sandwich fast food restaurant chain owned by Inspire Brands. U.S. Roark Capital Group is an American private equity firm with over $33 billion in assets under management. 1-800 Radiator is the largest franchised automotive parts distributor in North America. RB AMERICAN. Take 5 is a leading provider of oil change services through a convenient drive-thru format with fast, friendly customer experience. Roark Capital Group finalized its deal to acquire Buffalo Wild Wings for $2.9 billion on February 5. Naf Naf Grills website lists 39 locations in eight states, including Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin. For more information visit www.take5oilchange.com. It is part of Flynn Restaurant Group which also operates 441 . The boardroom at Roark Capital Group's offices in an Atlanta skyscraper has all the accoutrements of a nicely appointed meeting area, including a large conference table surrounded by comfortable chairs and a wide view of the city below.There's just one distinction: Two dozen black-framed notices of the private equity firm's acquisitions dot the walls along the narrow sides of the room. The brand offers 8- and 10-inch bundt cakes, Bundtlets and Bundtinis in multiple flavors that are hand-crafted and baked on-site. Lying on the carpet are two more frames, holding announcements for the latest purchases, Carls Jr. and Hardees, made last December in a deal valued at about $1.7 billion. [14] In September 2018, Inspire had the 27-location R Taco reverted to the Rusty Taco name. Branson, MO 65616-2060. Suite 2500 [11][12] Arby's CEO Paul Brown was selected to continue as Inspire Brands CEO. The brand offers 8- and 10-inch bundt cakes, Bundtlets and Bundtinis in multiple flavors that are hand-crafted and baked on-site. Makers of industrial parts and telecom infrastructure providers play a crucial role in the economy, but you don't see their commercials on TV. Flower Child is a growing, fast casual restaurant offering a customizable menu, made fresh from scratch, featuring locally-sourced, all-natural and organic ingredients. Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world. You don't drive past their logos every time you leave the house. Founded in 1983, Jimmy John's offers high-quality sandwiches with rapid preparation. Through its ownership of Fox Restaurant Group, a concept incubator, it also holds the rights to develop Flower Child, Culinary Dropout, Fly Bye and a host of other small brands. As of 2021, Wingstop makes a net income of about $42 million a year. We earn trust by abiding by the highest moral standards and treating our investors, management teams, lenders, advisors, service providers and communities with dignity and respect. Sign up to receive texts from Restaurant Business on news and insights that matter to your brand. Roark Capital Acquires ServiceMaster Brands. Founded in 1988, U.S. They are an extremely knowledgeable group, he says, noting that the firms buy-and-hold philosophy is important to him as a lender and franchisee. Maintaining Automated Tests in TAF for V1 platform for API testing Founded in 1988, U.S. What are the characteristics of that concept? Roark Capital Group Contact: Debra Vilchis Fishman Public Relations 847-945-1300 [emailprotected], Cision Distribution 888-776-0942 How are the unit-level economics? Cinnabon and some franchising rights for Seattles Best Coffee were then acquired in 2004. 1180 Peachtree Street NE Founded in 1965, ICWG is the world's largest conveyor car wash company currently operating in 14 countries around the globe, washing more than 35 million cars every year through a network of more than 900 locations. We like growth, and were looking to invest in growth.. They are like the Warren Buffett of restaurants.. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning), Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy, Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American. Inspire Brands is the franchisor and operator of the Arbys, Buffalo Wild Wings, Jimmy Johns, SONIC, Dunkin, and Baskin Robbins brands. Content warning: This article covers allegations of sexual assault. Roark Capital Group specializes in franchises in the food service, retail and consumer services industries. FOCUS Brands is the parent company of Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, McAlisters, Moe's Southwest Grill, Schlotzsky's and the franchisor of Seattle's Best Coffee on certain military bases and in certain international markets. Anytime Fitness is the largest fitness franchise in the world, with gym facilities open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The deals became larger and more diversefast-casual, full-service, and quick-service restaurants, including some with company-owned units, not just franchisees. Primrose Schools is a leading franchisor of pre-K schools providing high quality educational programs for children 6 weeks to 5 years old and after-school learning programs for 6 to 12 year olds. Its pretty exciting to be part of helping people realize their dreams, Aronson says of franchising. Author has 4.2K answers and 3.1M answer views. In addition to the franchise brands it owns, the Italian company also designs, makes and distributes fashion, luxury and sports eyewear under almost 20 brand names such as Ray-Ban . For the restaurant, see, "Jimmy John's Sale To Inspire Brands Now Complete", "Why Fast Food's Smartest Operator Is Expanding When Business Is Terrible", "Wendy's sells stake in Arby's owner for $450 million", "Arby's owner beefs up portfolio, eating up another fast-food franchise", "Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings new parent Inspire Brands debuts", "Arby's closes deal for Buffalo Wild Wings, makes new company", "Arby's CEO: We're Not Done Buying Brands After BWW", "Wendy's Sells Inspire Brands Stake for $450 Million", "Inspire Brands reveals plans for its 3rd brand, now Rusty Taco", "Inspire Brands bringing 1,100 jobs, $32 million to Sandy Springs", "Inspire Brands to buy Sonic Corp. for $2.3B", "Arby's owner Inspire Brands buys Jimmy John's", "Inspire completes purchase of Jimmy John's", "Dunkin' closes in on $9bn sale to Inspire Brands", "Inspire Brands to Acquire Dunkin' Brands Group for $11.3 Billion Including Debt", "Inspire Brands Completes Acquisition of Dunkin' Brands", "Inspire Brands sells Rusty Taco to the owner of Cicis Pizza", "Art of the deal panel to highlight FFGC", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Inspire_Brands&oldid=1139069937, Companies based in Sandy Springs, Georgia, 2018 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state), Economy of the Southeastern United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 February 2023, at 05:48. Founded in 1972, Meineke is an automotive aftermarket industry pioneer and leading provider of repair and maintenance services. It was the public. Sign up here. The Bar Method is a leading low-impact studio fitness franchise with locations across the US and Canada. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Roark Capital Group Inc. operates as a private equity firm. Pet Supermarket is the largest specialty retailer of pet food and pet-related supplies based in the southeastern US. Divisions Maintenance Group is a tech-based provider of integrated facilities maintenance services for prominent retail chains, pharmacies, grocery stores, warehouses, distribution centers, and REITs across more than 46,000 locations in all 50 states. Our Core Values define who we are, what we do and how we do it. Roark focuses on middle-market investment opportunities through family-owned business transfers, anagement/corporate buyouts, recapitalizations, going-private transactions, and corporate divestitures. Jul 22, 2013, 08:00 ET. Who owns roark capital group? Inspire Brands is the franchisor and operator of the Arbys, Buffalo Wild Wings, Jimmy Johns, SONIC, Dunkin, and Baskin Robbins brands. Roark Capital Group is an Atlanta-based private equity firm that specializes in franchise, brand management, environmental services and marketing services companies with attractive growth prospects. Share Your Design Ideas, New JerseysMurphy Defends $10 Billion Rainy Day Fund as States Economy Slows, What Led to Europes Deadliest Train Crash in a Decade, This Week in Crypto: Ukraine War, Marathon Digital, FTX. What company owns Jimmy Johns? They understand franchising, and they know brands and understand branding. When I talked to Jack, he yelled at me and shamed me into starting Roark, Aronson says. www.roarkcapital.com. Theres also Green Burrito and Red Burrito, which cobrand with some Carls Jr. and Hardees, while Roark also franchises Seattles Best Coffee internationally. The only way your investment is going to be rewarded in the long term is if you make long-term focused decisions that improve the business, which they do very well. Baseball Academy (Youth Enrichment Brands), U.S. Sports Camps (Youth Enrichment Brands), Roark portfolio company, Youth Enrichment Brands, acquires i9 Sports. Founded in 2003, i9 Sports is a leading franchisor of community-based, multi-sport leagues for children ages 3-14, serving over 3 million kids since inception. Our consumer products and services investments have included Driven Brands (the owner of ABRA, ATI, CARSTAR, International Car Wash Group, Maaco, Meineke, Take 5, Uniban, 1800 Radiator, Auto Glass Now, and others), ServiceMaster Brands (the owner of ServiceMaster Restore, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic, AmeriSpec, and Two Men and a Truck), Pet Supermarket, Pet Valu, Orangetheory Fitness, Massage Envy, Mathnasium, Primrose Schools, Self Esteem Brands (the owner of Anytime Fitness, Basecamp Fitness, The Bar Method, Waxing the City, and Stronger U), Fitness Connection, Youth Enrichment Brands (the owner of US Sports Camps, US Baseball Academy, i9 Sports, Streamline Brands and KE Camps), Great Expressions Dental Centers, and previously Atkins Nutritionals, Batteries Plus Bulbs, Drybar, FASTSIGNS, and US Franchise Systems. Cinnabon is an American chain of bakeries known for their "World Famous Cinnamon Rolls.". Roarks other limited-service brands include Auntie Annes, Carvel Ice Cream, Cinnabon, Moes Southwest Grill, and Schlotzskysall of which are included under the Focus Brands umbrellaas well as Corner Bakery, McAlisters Deli, and Wingstop. Roark ATLANTA OFFICE 1180 Peachtree Street NE Suite 2500 Atlanta, Georgia 30309 Phone (404) 591-5200 Fax (404) 591-5201 www.roarkcapital.com. Miller's appears to be in good hands with its current owners. Cinnabon is an American chain of bakeries known for their "World Famous Cinnamon Rolls.". Visit Website. Jim N Nicks is a differentiated full-service restaurant chain that has been serving award-winning barbecue and Southern-inspired cuisine for over 30 years. How a young private equity firm came to own 16 restaurant brands with $11 billion in systemwide sales. www.roarkcapital.com, Roark "Arby's Restaurant Group" redirects here. The company is in growth mode, targeting eight to 10 new openings a year. Our name signifies our admiration for the qualities embodied by Howard Roark but, as a firm of diverse viewpoints, it does not signify adherence to any particular political philosophy. Theyre very entrepreneurial., Besides, he says, theyre just plain good guys.. ATLANTA, Feb. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Roark Capital, an Atlanta -based private equity firm focused on investing in multi-unit businesses, announced today . Buffalo Wild Wings is the largest sports bar chain in the U.S., featuring an immersive sports restaurant experience and a variety of boldly flavored menu items, including buffalo-style chicken wings spun in over 20 signature sauces and seasonings. Theyre all different, and so I think weve gotten better at it, he says. Roark Capital Group acquired Corner Bakery in 2011 from Il Fornaio Corporation. See our history. Site Map | Search | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility, Roark Its holdings in the restaurant industry include investments in Arby's, Corner Bakery, Jimmy John's, Wingstop and FOCUS Brands, which owns chains such as Cinnabon and Schlotzsky's. Waxing the City is a growing network of waxing studios with an emphasis on superior waxes, highly-trained staff, and compassionate customer service. B-Dubs might be going private. Although CKE has debtthe company refinanced $1 billion last yearAronson says its very manageable. Roark's current brands include Anytime Fitness, Arby's, Atkins Nutritionals, Batteries Plus Bulbs, Carl Jr.'s, Corner Bakery, Driven Brands, FOCUS Brands (the owner of Auntie Anne's Pretzels, Carvel Ice Cream, Cinnabon, McAlister's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill, and Schlotzsky's), Hardee's, Il Fornaio, Massage Envy, Miller's Ale House, Money Mailer, Naf Naf Grill, Orangetheory Fitness, Pet Supermarket, Pet Valu, Primrose Schools, Quala, Waxing the City, and Wingstop. Contributions to 527s are not included in the Individuals, PACs, Soft (Indivs), or Soft (Orgs) columns, so the sum of these columns may not equal the Total column. Since inception, affiliates of Roark have invested in 61 franchise/multi-unit brands which collectively generate $25 billion in annual system revenues from 28,000 locations in 50 states and 78 countries. RB American is the largest Arby's franchisee, operating 370 restaurants across 9 states. In its 13 years in existence, Roark has sold only three companies.