Savory invests in chicken concept The Crack Shack

Investment firm Savory has taken a controlling interest in emerging chicken concept The Crack Shack, with plans to expand the Southern California-based restaurant chain into new communities.

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(The Crack Shack)
(The Crack Shack)

Investment firm Savory has taken a controlling interest in emerging chicken concept The Crack Shack, with plans to expand the Southern California-based restaurant chain into new communities. The fast-casual chain serves poultry products that are antibiotic-free and raised in a free range environment.

“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Savory to bring our deliciously reimagined comfort food and fine dining flair to more people in more places,” Michael Rosen, founder and CEO of The Crack Shack, said in a statement.

Rosen will remain CEO of the chicken chain.

Founded in 2015, The Crack Shack has a chicken and egg-focused menu with six locations throughout San Diego, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The brand sources fresh, antibiotic-free, ‘beyond free range’ Jidori Chicken and Gonestraw Farm Eggs served in the form of fried chicken, hearty sandwiches and bright bowls in a laid-back atmosphere modeled to look like a refined chicken coop.

Plans for expansion

The investment firm plans to expand the restaurant chain by 35 to 50 units by 2025. In the short-term, new restaurants are planned for states like Utah, Arizona, Idaho and other states where restaurants and sit-down dining have been less impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The chicken category is hot, and before the pandemic it was hot,” Andrew K. Smith, managing director of Savory, told Restaurant Business, referencing the white-hot market that started with the 2019 chicken sandwich wars and has continued throughout the pandemic

“It’s time for a better chicken concept to prevail. There are literally hundreds of brands out there asking for growth capital, but a lot of them are chicken tenders or sandwiches. That’s not unique enough. We were more interested in something that set it apart,” Smith continued.

Savory, an offshoot of growth investment firm Mercato Partners, is focused on supplying institutional support for emerging restaurant concepts. The Crack Shack joins Hawaiian concept Mo’Bettas, award winning R&R BBQ and sweets and treats chain, Swig, as part of the portfolio.

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