News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BRITT PRIVATE CAPITAL ACQUIRES 2nd FRANCHISED FOOD BRAND IN 12 MONTHS

Private Investment Firm Adds Juice It Up! and Mountain Mike’s Pizza to Growing Franchise Portfolio

NEWPORT BEACH, California (March 28, 2018) – Britt Private Capital, LLC, the recently established Newport Beach, California-based private investment firm of long-time private equity investor Chris L. Britt, is proud to announce the acquisition of its second fast casual franchise brand in the past 12 months.   In February 2018, Britt Private Capital sponsored and finalized the purchase of Juice It Up!, one of the nation’s leading handcrafted smoothie, raw juice, and superfruit bowl franchises, partnering with Edmond St. Geme-led Jupiter Holdings, LLC and CEO Partner Chris Braun in the transaction.  The purchase of Juice It Up! comes hot on the heels of Britt Private Capital’s and Jupiter Holdings’ April 2017 acquisition of Northern California-based Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a family and community oriented franchised pizza system with more than 190 locations mostly in California, and among the 20th largest pizza systems in the U.S.

Chris Britt established Britt Private Capital in early 2017 after 24 years of investing as one of two managing partners for Southern California-based middle market buyout firm Marwit Capital, where he was partnered alongside co-Managing partner Matthew Witte and Partner David Browne.   One of the key investment themes of Britt Private Capital is to invest in growth oriented businesses as a longer term investor, in most cases for periods of time that extend beyond traditional private equity ownership periods.    Franchised systems are one of the areas of investment focus for Britt’s new investment company, and the purchase of California based Mountain Mike’s Pizza and Juice It Up!  represent the first two transactions and an impressive unveiling for the new firm.

“I am thrilled to add Juice It Up! and Mountain Mike’s Pizza as a solid foundation for our portfolio of franchised system brands,” said Chris Britt, founder and Principal of Britt Private Capital. “Both brands are true leaders in their categories and I’m looking forward to helping them reach their full potential.”

While co-managing Marwit Capital since 1994, the firm completed more than 50 lower middle market buyout transactions and growth investments, including acquiring and building such industry leaders as Boot Barn (NYSE: BOOT), Solis Mammography, Driftwood Dairy, Signature Theaters, Western Emulsions, Paciolan, and Fire Grill, LLC.    Notably, Fire Grill, LLC was also a partnership between Britt and St. Geme where from 2004 to 2014 they owned 43 Burger King restaurants as one of the largest franchisees in the Burger King system, providing invaluable franchisor-franchisee experience to Britt Private Capital which has been applied to these initial two franchised brand acquisitions.

Currently, Britt serves as Co-CEO of Mountain Mike’s Pizza, which is on schedule to open 20-25 new franchised restaurants in 2018, its biggest year ever, including several in Southern California, a growth area for the brand, and active Chairman and lead investor for Juice It Up!    Britt continued, “We are patient investors with long-term views, and we seek partners who add value to the companies we invest in and are also enjoyable to work with.  My new firm is more akin to an active family office investment model than a traditional private equity model. Although I am keeping my eyes open for the next opportunity to add strong businesses to our roster, I am personally committed to playing an instrumental role in the growth of our existing brands.”

About Britt Private Capital

Britt Private Capital is based in Newport Beach, California and is the private investment firm of Chris L. Britt. The firm’s focus is on making control-oriented equity investments in businesses that are either leaders in their market segments or have the foundation to become leaders in their market segments with the addition of capital and guidance.  Britt Private Capital is located at 24 Corporate Plaza, Suite 100, Newport Beach, CA 92660 and can be reached at (949) 861-3639. For more information on Britt Private Capital, please email info@brittprivatecapital.com or visit www.brittprivatecapital.com.

Media Contact
Chelsea McKinney

Powerhouse Communications
(949) 261-2216 / Chelsea@powerhousecomm.com