Consumer Products & Services
Summer 2025
Restaurant M&A Market Snapshot, Summer 2025
Meridian Capital’s Consumer team provides an in-depth look at investment and acquisition trends shaping the restaurant and hospitality landscape. Following two consecutive quarters of rising deal volume and value, the sector is demonstrating renewed investor confidence particularly among private equity firms actively deploying capital into resilient, domestically focused restaurant brands. With a median transaction multiple of 7.6x EV/EBITDA and nearly 200 deals annually, the market reflects a flight toward profitable, scalable concepts positioned for long-term growth despite tariff and cost pressures. The report highlights notable acquisitions (including transactions by Flynn Group, Blackstone, and Darden Restaurants) alongside performance benchmarks from leading public companies such as McDonald’s, Chipotle, and Starbucks. Investors continue to target high-margin, experience-driven, and differentiated franchise platforms, while strategic buyers pursue consolidation opportunities to enhance portfolio synergies. For owners and operators navigating liquidity events, this update delivers valuable insights into valuation trends, deal activity, and the evolving appetite of strategic and financial acquirers within the restaurant sector.
Trends Driving M&A for Restaurants
Report Summary
CLA Meridian Capital’s Consumer team provides an in-depth look at investment and acquisition trends shaping the restaurant and hospitality landscape. Following two consecutive quarters of rising deal volume and value, the sector is demonstrating renewed investor confidence particularly among private equity firms actively deploying capital into resilient, domestically focused restaurant brands. With a median transaction multiple of 7.6x EV/EBITDA and nearly 200 deals annually, the market reflects a flight toward profitable, scalable concepts positioned for long-term growth despite tariff and cost pressures. The report highlights notable acquisitions (including transactions by Flynn Group, Blackstone, and Darden Restaurants) alongside performance benchmarks from leading public companies such as McDonald’s, Chipotle, and Starbucks. Investors continue to target high-margin, experience-driven, and differentiated franchise platforms, while strategic buyers pursue consolidation opportunities to enhance portfolio synergies. For owners and operators navigating liquidity events, this update delivers valuable insights into valuation trends, deal activity, and the evolving appetite of strategic and financial acquirers within the restaurant sector.
Restaurant M&A TRENDS
Key Highlights
- Restaurant Industry At A Glance
- Restaurant M&A Trends
- Restaurant Public & Private Trends
- CLA Meridian Capital Consumer Team Contact
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