The Cheesecake Factory Buys North Italia and Fox Restaurant Concepts

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated has completed the acquisitions of North Italia and Fox Restaurant Concepts (“FRC”), including Flower Child, a transaction of USD308m in consideration at closing.

It included USD12m earmarked for customary post-closing adjustments. An additional USD45m will be due over the next four years, and the FRC transaction also includes an earn-out provision based on the financial performance of the FRC brands outside of North Italia and Flower Child. The company previously invested USD88m in the North Italia and Flower Child concepts over the last three years in anticipation of their purchase.

North Italia turns a modern lens on Italian cooking in the upscale, casual-dining segment. All dishes are handmade from scratch daily. The concept currently has 21 locations in 10 states and Washington D.C. North Italia’s operations will be located at The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated’s corporate headquarters in Calabasas Hills, California to help scale the concept nationally.

FRC was founded by Sam Fox, a 10-time James Beard Award semifinalist for Restaurateur of the Year, New York Times best-selling cookbook author, and recently named one of the 50 most influential people in the restaurant industry by Nation’s Restaurant News for the fifth consecutive year. FRC currently operates 47 restaurants across 8 states and Washington D.C. FRC will operate as an independent subsidiary and continue to be led by Fox from FRC’s headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona.