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When Cara Operations merged with Fairfax Financial’s Prime Restaurants in October, the 130-year old company cemented its grip on Canada’s casual dining market by adding East Side Mario’s and Casey’s to an arsenal that already included nationwide chains like Swiss Chalet and Milestones. But the past few years have been tough on casual restaurants—a vast category that occupies everything between fast food and fine dining—as chains have surrendered market share to a growing wave of upscale fast-food brands like Five Guys and Freshii. The best defence, it seems, is to consolidate and conquer. Care to see the merger menu?
CENTRAL CANADA BASED
CARA
800+ RESTAURANTS
From its roots selling apples to steamship passengers, Cara has become Canada’s dominant force in casual dining (including more than 240 Harvey’s locations.)
SWISS CHALET
200+ LOCATIONS
MONTANA’S
90+ LOCATIONS
EAST SIDE MARIO’S
86+ LOCATIONS
KELSEY’S
75+ LOCATIONS
MILESTONES
45+ LOCATIONS
CASEY’S
26 LOCATIONS
SERVICE-INSPIRED RESTAURANTS
56 RESTAURANTS
In addition to Jack Astor’s, SIR Corp. has added fine dining (Far Niente) and pubs (Loose Moose) to its plate.
JACK ASTOR’S
38 LOCATIONS
CANYON CREEK
8 LOCATIONS
WEST COAST BASED
T&M GROUP (BOSTON PIZZA)
350 RESTAURANTS
Jim Treliving’s family pizza chain has more than tripled its locations in the last 15 years.
EARL’S
115 RESTAURANTS
Vancouver’s Fuller family recently acquired a 50% stake in Cactus Club, a rival founded by a pair of former Earl’s waiters.
EARL’S
64 LOCATIONS
CACTUS CLUB
27 LOCATIONS
JOEY’S RESTAURANTS
24 LOCATIONS
NORTHLAND PROPERTIES
109 RESTAURANTS
Vancouver’s Tom Gaglardi also owns 37 Denny’s locations, the Sandman Hotel chain and the Dallas Stars.
MOXIE’S
63 LOCATIONS
CHOP STEAKHOUSE AND BAR
8 LOCATIONS
KEG RESTAURANTS LTD.
106 RESTAURANTS
In November, Fairfax Financial purchased a Keg-sized stake (51%) in the steak chain.
EAST COAST BASED
IMVESCOR
240 RESTAURANTS
A big player in Atlantic Canada, Imvescor made its move into Central Canada with the acquisition of Baton Rouge.
PIZZA DELIGHT
86 LOCATIONS
MIKE’S
76 LOCATIONS
SCORE’S
45 LOCATIONS
BATON ROUGE
33 LOCATIONS
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