Let’s Talk Franchising!

McDonald’s chickens out on Boston Market

Author: Jim Coen
August 6, 2007
Category: Franchising in general

The Boston Business Journal reported today that Boston Market, co-created by Boston-based franchise guru George Nadaff, is being sold to Sun Capital Partners Inc.

McDonald’s Corp., the Illinois fast-food giant that owns Boston Market, is selling the franchise to the Florida buyout firm to focus on hamburgers.

As of June 30, 2007, Boston Market’s total assets and total liabilities were $180 million and $89.1 million, respectively, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Boston Market currently has 630 locations in 28 states.

In early August 2007, McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) signed a definitive agreement for the sale of Boston Market. The company expects to complete the transaction in the third quarter 2007 and does not expect to record a loss.

McDonald’s acquired Boston Market’s operations for $176.2 million in May 2000. Since then, McDonald’s has pared down its partner brands, shedding Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMGB), Donato’s Pizza and its stake in Fazoli’s Italian fast-food restaurants.

“It was more a distraction than anything,” Morningstar analyst John Owens said of Boston Market. “McDonald’s is really singularly focused on the Golden Arches, so this was not a surprise to me.”

Sun Capital, which now owns Fazoli’s, has a portfolio that also includes bakery chain Bruegger’s Enterprises, Garden Fresh salad restaurants and cheese-and-meat retailer Hickory Farms. Two years earlier, Boston Market had run out of cash to pay creditors and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Boston Market Corp., founded as Boston Chicken in 1985, expanded under the wing of franchise specialist Nadaff, who partnered with the founders in 1989.