Earlier this week, Yum Brands announced it will acquire The Habit Burger Grill for $375 million.
As a fast-casual burger chain, the restaurant is already set apart from Yum’s current quick-service brands, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC. The Habit Burger Grill, which currently has 271 units and has recently placed an emphasis on convenience and value, will now have access to Yum’s quick-service expertise.
In a phone interview with Nation’s Restaurant News on Monday, Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs said, “between the value and the drive-thru, it really is as close to QSR as you can get in the fast casual segment.” He said he was drawn to the brand’s menu, which in addition to burgers includes entrée salads, tuna and chicken sandwiches and creative sides like tempura green beans and sweet potato fries.
For more on the recent acquisition news, read takeaways from our interviews with Gibbs and The Habit Burger Grill CEO Russ Bendel, and take a look back on the history of Yum Brands’ acquisitions in the United States.
Click through this gallery to learn more about The Habit Burger Grill, from its 1969 beginnings in California, to its franchising program, to its initial public offering.
All photos courtesy of The Habit Burger Grill