Operations
Rapid Fired Pizza acquired by franchisees
October 22, 2021
Rapid Fired Pizza LLC has been acquired by the franchisees who own Pie Guys Restaurants LLC, according to a press release.
Industry veteran and Rapid Fired Pizza owner/operator Mike Kern will serve as CEO and president, with Chip Hurst serving as the chief development officer. After divesting ownership of the brand, Rapid Fired Pizza founder Ray Wiley will continue as a licensee, operating locations in Ohio. Financial terms were not disclosed, according to the release.
Rapid Fired Pizza is headquartered in Kettering, Ohio, and has more than 30 restaurants in six states.
Pie Guys Restaurants LLC is based in South Carolina and led by Kern and Hurst, co-owners and operators of the Rapid Fired Pizza Spartanburg, South Carolina, Greenville, South Carolina, and Easley, South Carolina, locations and area developers for Rapid Fired Pizza in South Carolina and North Carolina.
"Having been part of large-chain brands built on a franchisee model, as well as running the front lines of daily operations, we understand how to work with franchisees as partners in driving brand growth and mutual success," Kern said in the release.
"This acquisition was based on Rapid Fired Pizza's brand strength and proven market concept," said Hurst. "We quickly recognized that the fast-casual pizza space has short- and long-term growth potential as evidenced by market entries and overall segment growth."
Plans for the brand include franchise development throughout the existing footprint of the Midwest, Southeast, and Texas. The brand is slated to open five locations within the next 12 months, including restaurants in Anderson and Greenwood in South Carolina, Parkersburg in West Virginia, and Indiana and Texas. Headquarters will remain in Kettering, Ohio, while options for relocation to South Carolina are evaluated.
