Firm at a glance
Roark Capital Group is a platform private equity firm headquartered in Atlanta, GA, per its own website [S1].
What they buy
Roark Capital Group concentrates its investments in franchise and multi-unit businesses, particularly within the restaurant and food sector [S1]. The firm’s portfolio demonstrates a pattern of building large franchise platforms through consolidation, with holdings spanning quick-service restaurants, automotive services, fitness centers, and youth enrichment concepts [S1]. Roark appears to favor consumer-facing, recurring-revenue businesses that operate through franchised or company-owned unit models [S1].
Portfolio
Restaurant and Food / Franchise Platforms
Roark’s restaurant holdings include several major franchise platforms [S1]. Inspire Brands encompasses Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, and Baskin-Robbins [S1]. GoTo Foods includes Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, Carvel, and Jamba [S1]. Additional restaurant investments include CKE Restaurants, Culver’s, and Dave’s Hot Chicken [S1].
Automotive Services
Driven Brands serves as a platform for automotive aftermarket services, including CARSTAR, ABRA, ATI, and 1-800 Radiator [S1].
Health and Wellness
Purpose Brands includes Anytime Fitness, and the firm also holds Fitness Connection [S1].
Business Services
The firm’s business services portfolio includes Divisions Maintenance Group, Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS), and Installation Made Easy [S1].
Youth Enrichment
Youth Enrichment Brands includes i9 Sports [S1].
Recent activity (last 24 months)
No recent public transactions were surfaced in the data fetch as of January 2025.
How this firm fits a seller
Roark Capital Group appears best suited for franchise or multi-unit operators seeking to join established platforms with significant scale. The firm’s strategy centers on building large, consolidated platforms rather than standalone investments, suggesting acquired businesses typically become part of broader operating groups [S1]. For owner-operators in the restaurant, automotive services, or fitness sectors, Roark’s portfolio indicates experience managing franchise systems and company-owned locations. The firm’s concentration in consumer-facing, location-based businesses aligns with sellers in these verticals who value operational expertise in multi-unit expansion.
Sources
[S1] https://www.roarkcapital.com (as of 2025-01-10)
Frequently asked questions
Does Roark Capital Group buy Franchise / Multi-Unit businesses?
Yes, franchise and multi-unit businesses represent the core of Roark Capital Group’s investment strategy [S1]. The firm’s portfolio includes numerous franchise platforms across restaurant, automotive, fitness, and youth enrichment sectors, including major brands such as Inspire Brands, Driven Brands, and GoTo Foods [S1].
What companies has Roark Capital Group acquired recently?
The data fetch did not surface specific transaction dates or recent acquisitions within the last 24 months as of January 2025. The firm’s current portfolio includes well-known brands such as Dunkin’, Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Anytime Fitness, and Culver’s, among others [S1].
Where is Roark Capital Group based and how big is the firm?
Roark Capital Group is based in Atlanta, GA [S1]. Fund size and assets under management were not available in public sources as of January 2025.
Is Roark Capital Group still actively acquiring?
Based on the absence of publicly reported transactions in the last 24 months as of January 2025, recent acquisition activity could not be confirmed through available public sources. The firm maintains an active portfolio of franchise platforms across multiple sectors [S1].
This profile is maintained by CT Acquisitions as an independent third-party reference. CT Acquisitions is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or a representative of the firm profiled. All facts sourced from publicly available materials as of the dates cited.