Share
Helping a Local Food Chain Take Their Unique Flavor to New Markets
THE SITUATION
- An investor Client hired
Stax
to assess the positioning of a fast-casual restaurant chain and validate their concept in view of a potential franchise partnership to expand operations into three extended markets.
THE ASSIGNMENT
- Measured the overall market maturity for the fast casual category in core and extended markets.
- Compiled a fact base from data collected through field research of consumers, interviews with competitors and a review of secondary research and publications.
- Assessed the Target’s value proposition and customer perceptions along with the possibility of exporting the concept to the new markets.
THE BENEFITS
- Stax validated the fast casual category concept and investment consideration by providing recommendations regarding potential opportunities and threats in the new markets.
- We also confirmed runway to support additional locations across the new markets by 2020.
THE FINDING
- The Target appeared to have a highly satisfied customer base and performed well against key restaurant selection criteria.
- They were clearly differentiated from their competition on key elements of their value proposition and their customers displayed strong customer advocacy across core markets.
- Research revealed significant growth opportunities within the three extended markets, as they collectively represented a notably underserved market, constrained by the lack of availability of fast casual category outlets.
- High consumer receptivity for the Fast Casual Category Concept across the extended markets assured success for the Client in partnering with the Target for expansion in to the new markets.
Read More
The investigation management and digital intelligence software market is consolidating, presenting an interesting opportunity for middle market PE investors. Read more here.
Grant Thornton Stax congratulates Orion Legal MSO, a managed services organization supporting law firms, on its partnership with John Foy & Associates. Read more.
Global Practice Leader Paul Edwards highlights the value of the final year before a sale and how investors can utilize this time to generate better outcomes. Read more.
The US ECE market remains an attractive growth arena for operators, product and service providers, and investors. Read what insights Miriam El-Baz and Alex Erines have to share.
Florent Jarry and Bharath Venkatesh attended Monetising B2B a conference hosted in London in May 2026. Read their full report on their learnings here.
Rob Larson was interviewed by ION Analytics to discuss the recent trends in hospice M&A and what is driving investors to make these moves. Read the full article here.