Private Equity Helps Pizza Dough Rise to New Heights

“There’s a lot that I admire about Gatti’s,”Michael Poates, president of Gatti's Pizza said. “The pizza is great, and the people are even better. We’ve got an energized group of franchisees and a dedicated corporate team that’s committed to supporting them. This company is solid and profitable, and provides a great platform for growth. These were deciding factors as we evaluated this acquisition. All the elements for success are in place. My job simply is to serve the brand while accelerating the momentum. We’re all very motivated and excited for what’s ahead.”  This week on Franchise Today co-hosts Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto welcome Michael Poate as their guest. Poates is Presidentof Sovrano LLC out of Fort Worth, Texas - the private equity firm that acquired Gatti's Pizza. As the popularity of pizza chains continues to rise, Gatti's Pizza was one of several franchised restaurant brands to attract private equity investment in recent years. Poates draws from more than 28 years of experience at Dairy Queen, Whataburger, Papa John’s, Chesapeake Restaurants, and others. Franchise Today airs LIVE Wednesdays at 11AM CT / 12PM ET with on-demand access on iTunes, and is sponsored by FRM Solutions and Franchise Foundry.