M&A Trends In The Restaurant Industry

We previously reported on the increased amount of deal activity in the food and beverage sector, including the growing attention towards specific niche areas within this industry, such as natural and organic food and "indulgence" foods. Based on the number of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals seen in 2016 and in 2017 so far, it has been predicted that 2017 would be a successful year for the food and beverage industry.

Restaurant M&A deals in 2016

Within the food and beverage industry, there has been particular growth in the restaurant sector specifically. This growth is evidenced by the increase in number of restaurant-related deals in the United States by 86% from 2004 to 2016. Specifically, 2016 was a notable year for M&A deals in the restaurant industry. The number of deals grew by 23% in 2016, compared to the two previous years, which experienced negative growth.