News

Fuzzy's Taco announces new investor

NRD Capital Management, a franchisee-sponsored and managed equity investment fund, has purchased a majority position in Fuzzy's Taco Shop.

February 29, 2016

NRD Capital Management, a franchisee-sponsored and managed equity investment fund, has purchased a majority position in Fuzzy's Taco Shop, a 90-unit Fort Worth, Texas-based brand, according to a company press release.

Expanding from its recent acquisition of Frisch's Big Boy Restaurants, NRD is focused on investing in and accelerating the growth of brands that offer superior products and compelling unit economics, said Aziz Hashim, NRD Capital founder and managing partner.

"NRD Capital is doing what it set out to do from beginning," he said. "We are finding brands with compelling unit economics and partnering with their existing management teams to maximize the impact that the brand can have through franchising. Our approach to private equity is unlike anything in the space, and it's proving to be extremely fruitful."

NRD is evolving the franchise private equity space through the fund's unique access to its multi-unit franchisee investor base and wider networks, Hashim said.

"We're thrilled to be partnering with NRD Capital," said Chuck Bush, Fuzzy's Taco Shop president. "We have seen great success with our brand, primarily growing throughout the southern and midwestern U.S. We knew that to grow our business dramatically, we needed a partner who knows franchising, has access to qualified developers and is willing to partner with our existing team to enhance the brand and maximize growth."

The unit economics and growth potential of Fuzzy's Taco Shop makes it the perfect fit for NPD, said NRD Partner Harrison Price.

"We have the tools to make Fuzzy's a powerhouse in the fast casual segment by working with management to enrich this fun, exciting brand and by focusing on bringing additional operators in to accelerate new development," he said.