Private equity firm CenterOak Partners has completed a majority investment in Wetzel’s Pretzels, the second largest owner and franchisor of soft pretzel stores.
Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Headquartered in Pasadena, California, Wetzel’s Pretzels has been serving premium freshly baked soft pretzels since Bill Phelps and Rick Wetzel founded the company in 1994.
In addition to its signature hand-rolled soft pretzels, its menu includes Wetzel Dogs, Wetzel Bitz pretzel bites, fresh lemonade, granita and other beverages.
It has more than 300 company-owned and franchise locations in 28 states and six countries. Its stores are located in shopping malls, outlet centres, theme parks, select discount retail stores, train stations and airports.
“We are excited to partner with the company and its tenured and successful management team,” says Randall Fojtasek, managing partner of CenterOak. “The company has demonstrated consistent, stable growth in its more than two decades of operation, and has developed an exceptional brand. CenterOak’s proven approach of identifying opportunities for operational improvement and experience expanding companies’ product offerings and reach makes us well suited to support the company and its management team’s strategic vision.”
“Our company has achieved significant growth since Rick Wetzel and I founded Wetzel’s Pretzels in 1994, but we know that there is opportunity to further develop our brand,” says Phelps. “CenterOak’s team has a long track record of building value in consumer companies as well as partnering with companies to expand their footprint within the US. We look forward to leveraging the firm’s expertise to continue to support and grow our network of franchise partners and to bring innovative new products to market.”
CenterOak Partners invested in Wetzel’s Pretzels with capital from its USD420 million CenterOak Equity Fund I.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher provided legal counsel services to CenterOak Partners and Golub Capital provided financing for the transaction. North Point Advisors served as financial adviser to Wetzel’s Pretzels.
