Leading Seafood QSR Achieves Dramatic Turnaround Through New Management, Operational Improvements, and Transformation of the Customer Experience
Sun Capital Partners, Inc. (“Sun Capital”), a leading private investment firm specializing in leveraged buyouts and investments in market-leading companies, today announced that an affiliate has signed an agreement to sell its investment in Captain D’s Seafood Restaurant (“Captain D’s” or the “Company”), a leading seafood quick service restaurant, to Centre Partners, a leading middle market private equity firm. Terms of the private transaction were not disclosed.
Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Captain D’s is the highest average unit volume seafood quick service restaurant chain in the U.S., which owns, operates and franchises 527 restaurants in 25 states and on military bases around the world. Captain D’s restaurants serve a wide variety of fish and seafood, including freshly prepared entrees, and the company’s signature hand-battered fish fillets, which are prepared to order.
Prior to acquisition, Captain D’s had suffered several years of declining comparable store sales. Upon acquisition by an affiliate of Sun Capital, the management team was rapidly strengthened and several improvements to business operations were quickly executed, including the implementation of new financial controls, a robust procurement process, and better labor management. The company was also able to transform the customer experience through a new restaurant design, revamping the menu with innovative new items, improving food quality, and increasing the value customers receive for their meal. This resulted in 27 consecutive periods of system-wide comparable sales growth. Building on Captain D’s successful turnaround, the restaurant has recently begun expanding its franchise locations.
“We are extremely proud of the transformation and revitalization of Captain D’s,” said Marc Leder, Co-CEO at Sun Capital. “We’re confident that the combination of operational improvements and customer-focused solutions that have been achieved over the past three years will enable the business to continue to build on its strong market position.”
Sun Capital has strong experience in the restaurant sector through current affiliated portfolio companies Boston Market, a fast casual restaurant serving quality, home style meals at a convenient value in more than 460 nationwide locations; Smokey Bones Barbeque & Grill, a full-service bar and fire-grill restaurant that operates 65 locations in 17 states; Bar Louie Restaurants, a neighborhood bar and eatery with more than 70 locations across the U.S.; and Fazoli’s, the premium Italian quick-service restaurant ranked second overall among large national fast-food chains in the prestigious Zagat Survey.
About Sun Capital Partners, Inc.
Sun Capital Partners, Inc. is a pioneer in private equity investing, uniquely combining the financial skills and resources of a traditional private equity firm with the insight and expertise of a world class operating team. The firm focuses on market-leading companies that can benefit from our in-house professionals, resources, and expertise in their efforts to materially improve operating performance. Sun Capital affiliates have invested in more than 330 companies worldwide with combined sales in excess of $45 billion since our inception in 1995. Sun Capital has offices in Boca Raton, Los Angeles and New York, and affiliates in London, Frankfurt, Paris, Luxembourg, Shanghai and Shenzhen. For more information, visit www.SunCapPart.com
