Press Clips: Buffalo Wild Wings Sold; Heineken Buys Stake in London’s Brixton Brewery

Arby’s to Buy Buffalo Wild Wings in Deal Worth $2.9 Billion

Fast-food chain Arby’s has agreed to buy Buffalo Wild Wings for $2.4 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Roark Capital Group, which owns the Arby’s Restaurant chains as well as Jimmy John’s and CKE Restaurant Holdings (Hardee’s, Carl’s Jr, etc.), purchased the Minneapolis-based chicken wing chain for $157 a share, the outlet reported. The transaction, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2018, will be worth about $2.9 billion, including debt.

Upon completion of the transaction, Buffalo Wild Wings will become a privately held subsidiary of Arby’s, the Journal reported.

Arby’s CEO Paul Brown is expected to serve as CEO of both restaurant chains.

Buffalo Wild Wings operates more than 1,250 company and franchised locations while Arby’s maintains more than 3,300 stores.

Heineken Acquires Minority Stake in Brixton Brewery

Heineken UK has acquired a minority stake in London-based Brixton Brewery.

On a company blog, Brixton’s founders said the deal would help the brewery increase production and achieve wider distribution.

“To realise this unique and ambitious chance to grow in our home, we needed some serious investment,” the founders wrote. “It was with pretty much perfect timing that we were contacted by Heineken UK. They had noticed us, liked what we were doing and wanted to see if we could work together somehow.”

The company’s founders added that they will “continue to manage the business and guide its future” as majority shareholders. Brixton plans to install a 30-barrel brewhouse in the spring in a 15,000 sq. ft. industrial space. The company will also begin offering cans for the first time.

Read more here.

Legacy Hall Grand Opening Set

The grand opening of Legacy Hall — a three-story, 55,000 sq. ft. European-style food hall, brewery and live music and entertainment venue in Plano, Texas — is slated for Wednesday, December 6, according to a press release.

Legacy Hall, which will feature 20 different food stalls, also includes a third-floor craft brewery, Unlawful Assembly Brewery & Tap Room.

Unlawful Assembly, which will debut with six initial offerings, plans to commission a canning line in January and begin off-site distribution. See more information about Unlawful Assembly and Legacy Hall here.

Founders’ Detroit Taproom to Open in December

Michigan’s Founders Brewing Company announced Tuesday that its $4 million midtown Detroit brewery and taproom will open on December 4.

The full-service taproom will serve specialty Founders beer brewed on-site by Andrew Veenhoven, as well as the company’s core offerings and food.

“Construction moved along at breakneck speed and we are now (just about) ready to open our doors to Founders Taproom – Detroit and we could not be more pumped,” Founders website said.