Craveworthy Brands to acquire Papa Gino’s, add 160-plus restaurants

Craveworthy Brands has signed an agreement to acquire New England Authentic Eats LLC, the Massachusetts-based parent company of Papa Gino's Pizzeria, in a deal that will add more than 160 restaurants to its portfolio.

Following the acquisition, Craveworthy plans to introduce its Wing It On brand at every Papa Gino's location, a move expected to increase Wing It On!'s footprint from 45 restaurants to more than 145. The transaction, expected to close by Dec. 31, will add approximately $160 million in annual revenue to Craveworthy's platform, bringing its portfolio to nearly 500 locations.

The planned co-branding strategy will allow Craveworthy to expand Wing It On through Papa Gino's existing restaurants rather than opening traditional standalone locations.

Founded in East Boston in 1961, Papa Gino's built its business around handmade pizza and its New England roots. The brand will retain its name, menu and identity following the acquisition, while Craveworthy invests in its operations and growth.

Wing It On, founded in Connecticut in 2011, is known for its chicken wings, sauces and house-made dips.

"Papa Gino's is a New England institution. People grew up on this pizza, and we're going to honor that," Gregg Majewski, CEO and founder of Craveworthy, said in a press release. "We protect what makes a brand special, then put our full platform behind it. With Wing It On!, we can build on that foundation and bring something new to the table."

Craveworthy plans to support the combined business through shared purchasing power, integrated technology, training and operational systems.

"Pizza and wings belong together. But the menu is only the start," Majewski said. "We win by taking care of our teams, delivering exceptional hospitality and giving operators the support to build stronger businesses. This deal gives us the opportunity to do that at a much greater scale."

The acquisition also advances Craveworthy's broader growth strategy. The company plans to pursue additional acquisitions of comparable scale every six to nine months, with each deal expanding its operational capabilities and development opportunities.

Craveworthy reported more than $300 million in systemwide sales before the transaction. Its portfolio includes more than 20 restaurant concepts.