Wetzel’s Pretzels Acquired by Private Equity Firm CenterOak Partners

0

The smell of soft baked pretzels by Pasadena chain Wetzel’s Pretzels has made its way to Dallas-based private equity firm CenterOak Partners.

Wetzel’s Pretzels was acquired by the private equity firm Thursday for an undisclosed sum.

Jennifer Schuler, Wetzel’s chief marketing officer, said after nine years with Beverly Hills equity firm Levine Leichtman Capital Partners it was time to make the jump.

“They’ve been happy with our performance so we weren’t quick to exit but the time came to make that transition,” she said.

Schuler added that the company has seen consistent growth with same store sales up 6.5 percent, the highest its seen in the past 10 years, and overall revenue reaching $165 million last year.

And Wetzel’s introduced a mobile app last month that allows customers to track their loyalty cards, as well as purchase gift cards. It also introduced new menu items and opened two new flagship stores this year in Fulton Center in New York and Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.

Wetzel’s has more than 300-company owned and franchised locations in 28 states and six countries.

No posts to display