Atlanta Firm
Invests Equity Capital in Thriving Athens-based Customized Pizza Franchise
Brand
ATLANTA – Your
Pie and Georgia Oak Partners (“Georgia Oak”) announced today that they have
entered into a partnership in which Georgia Oak will invest substantial growth equity
into the emerging, customized pizza franchise brand.
Georgia Oak’s capital infusion will be used to support
Your Pie’s infrastructure growth and provide capital to promote further franchise
expansion of the customized pizza franchise brand. The company has 17 locations
in the southeastern United States and plans to open eight additional locations
by the end of 2013.
“Our partnership with Georgia Oak will allow Your Pie to
further innovate its delicious fast casual brand of pizza and to develop in more
cities across the United States,” said Your Pie Founder Drew French. “Georgia Oak’s approach of adding value to
its investments in a variety of ways will improve our brand positioning, increase
the support we offer our franchisees and, moving forward, sharpen our growth vision.”
“We are excited to join in this partnership with our
Georgia neighbors at Your Pie,” said Mike Lonergan, Managing Partner of Georgia
Oak. “Your Pie has led the pack in the
booming fast casual pizza category behind visionary leadership and with a
proven concept that has been fine-tuned over the company’s five years of
remarkable success. Georgia Oak Partners is proud to join Your Pie as the
company continues their aggressive expansion in the Southeast and across the
country.”
In addition to the financial support provided by Georgia
Oak Partners, the partnership will include an investment of the company’s wealth
of intellectual capital. David Barr, Director for Georgia Oak Partners, has more
than two decades of success in the restaurant industry with experience as CEO
of Great American Cookies, Inc., Chairman of Don Pablo’s, and on the board of
directors of Mrs. Fields Cookies, TCBY, and Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group. In addition, Barr has previous experience
working for Pizza Hut as well as other national non-restaurant retailers. Barr will
work closely with existing management to guide the acceleration of franchisee
and unit growth.
About Your Pie
Your Pie is the world’s originator of the fast casual,
brick-oven, customized personal pizza concept. Your Pie founder Drew French
tapped his restaurant background and knowledge of the conveyor-driven
quick-serve and married it with brick oven technology to create the highest
quality pizza available in a fast and customized format for customers to
enjoy. Drawing from authentic family
recipes from the Italian island of Ischia, Your Pie uses only fresh
ingredients, homemade pizza sauces and salad dressings, and offers vegan,
vegetarian and gluten-free pizzas, as well as traditional pizzas. As a result,
the Your Pie brand has become a favorite of customers in communities throughout
the southeastern U.S. and continues to expand with rapid franchisee development. For more information about Your Pie or
franchising opportunities, please visit www.yourpie.com.
About Georgia Oak
Partners
Georgia Oak Partners is a highly differentiated investment
platform focused on growth private equity investments in the Southeast US.
Georgia Oak seeks to invest $2 to $10 million in privately owned companies in
the transportation, manufacturing, business services, and consumer or
restaurant sectors. Georgia Oak’s team includes seasoned industry executives
who work to supplement incumbent management teams in accelerating performance
and value. More information can be found at www.GeorgiaOakPartners.com.
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