Long John Silver’s OpCo Now the Largest Owner of Restaurants
Long John Silver’s, the nation’s largest quick service seafood company, today announced the acquisition of 76 LJS restaurants owned by ServUS located primarily in Indiana. ServUS is owned by veteran franchisee Bob Ruckriegel who opened the 3rd Long John Silver’s restaurant in 1969. Financial terms were not released.
“This is an excellent opportunity to continue our brand revitalization,” said Brian Unger, President and COO of Long John Silver’s. “We’re thrilled to add an extensive line-up of well-performing restaurants to our company-owned portfolio and to continue the legacy that Bob has left behind.”
ServUs’ owned Long John Silver’s restaurants are located primarily in central and northern Indiana as well as western Kentucky and southwestern Michigan. This acquisition grows the LJS’ company-owned system to 200 restaurants and includes the addition of ServUS’ highly experienced operations team.
“This brand holds a special place in my heart and we’re very proud of the work we’ve put into these restaurants for the last 49 years,” states Bob Ruckriegel, “I know these restaurants and the team running them are in great hands.”
Long John Silver’s recently began the process of revitalizing its brand, swapping the nostalgic Cape Cod building elements for clean, nautical-themed lines of a new design. The newly renovated restaurants have already reported double digit growth and the newest Long John Silver’s locations from ServUs in Indiana will showcase this fresh, contemporary change as well as adding the brand’s new grilled platform to the restaurants. The brand shifted from a 100 percent franchised system and began acquiring restaurants in late 2015. Today Long John Silver’s owns 20 percent of the restaurants in its system, making it the largest restaurant operator for the brand.
Long John Silver’s is a classic American brand founded in 1969, and stands today as the nation’s largest quick-service seafood chain with nearly 1,000 restaurants in the U.S. Long John Silver’s is famous for its pure, wild-caught Alaskan whitefish hand-dipped in its signature batter and lightly fried to golden perfection. Learn more at www.ljsilvers.com or join the conversation via social media on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
