The transaction will fuel growth and continue revitalization momentum for pizza buffet brand
Cicis, the nation’s top family-friendly pizza buffet restaurant company known for its unlimited pizza, pasta, salad, soup and dessert offerings, announces that Arlon Group, a food and agriculture investment firm focused on businesses in the Americas, has acquired Cicis in partnership with Cicis’ management team.
Based in Coppell, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, Cicis invented the Unlimited Pizza Buffet, and since its founding in 1985, the company has grown to more than 440 restaurants in 33 states. Cicis recently implemented a brand revitalization program, including new branding and expanded menu options, which fueled positive same-store sales for 13 consecutive quarters and generated a pipeline of potential new stores and franchisees. Cicis recently announced the signing of 32 development agreements with franchise partners representing more than 70 new restaurant commitments in 53 markets. In addition, eight new franchise partners have joined Cicis since November 2015.
Cicis’ senior management team, led by CEO Darin Harris, who has presided over the brand’s revitalization since joining the company in 2013, will continue to guide the business. “Arlon is a strong financial partner that will help us maintain the momentum we’ve achieved, accelerate our growth and fortify our revitalization strategy,” said Harris. “Arlon brings to Cicis significant expertise and experience from its extensive investments in the food and agriculture industry, and we share a commitment to growing our brand and bringing additional value to the company, team members, our franchisees and the guests who enjoy our restaurants.”
“Cicis is a growing brand with an excellent legacy as an affordable, fun, family-friendly restaurant that provides a wide variety of quality pizzas and more,” said Arlon Managing Principal Ben Fishman. “The company’s dedicated, high-caliber management team has set the company on a path that is generating consistent, positive results. We look forward to partnering with the Cicis team and their franchisees to leverage our combined expertise to further fuel momentum and drive incremental value for the company.”
Cicis invented the Unlimited Pizza Buffet concept, driven by a belief in making life more flavorful by empowering guests to find the flavors they love. At nearly 450 restaurants strong in 33 states, Cicis earned recognition on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 list in 2015. Cicis also won the Technomic 2014 Consumers’ Choice award for best kid-friendly quick service restaurant. For more information about Cicis, visit www.cicis.com or Facebook.com/cicis. For franchising information, contact Michael Iglesias at miglesias@cicispizza.com or 972-745-9313 or visit franchise.cicis.com.
Arlon Group is a food and agriculture investment firm with a global network that invests in middle-market businesses across the entire food supply chain in the Americas. Arlon’s team brings extensive investment expertise and deep, local industry contacts as they seek to partner with growth-oriented businesses in the food and agriculture sectors. Arlon’s investment professionals work collaboratively across geographies, and Arlon’s portfolio companies benefit from the team’s shared knowledge of regional and global trends. Arlon’s investment focus comes from its founding investor, Continental Grain Company, a 200-year-old leader in the food and agriculture space. Rabobank, a leading bank to the global food, beverage and agribusiness industry, is another key Arlon investor. In Latin America, Arlon also works in partnership with VR Investments, a family-owned Brazilian investment company with broad experience in Brazilian businesses. Arlon Group has approximately $1 billion in assets under management and is headquartered in New York with an office in Sao Paulo, Brazil. For more information, visit www.arlongroup.com.
