EFSS Board member strikes mega-deal
“McWin Capital Partners to acquire majority shareholding in Sticks’n’Sushi” — With this declaration, two individuals closely associated with the European Foodservice Summit have unveiled this year’s first mega deal for the European restaurant industry. Discover the pivotal role EFSS has played in fostering the business relationship between Sticks’n’Sushi CEO Andreas Karlsson and McWin co-founder Henry McGovern.
After McWin acquired majority stakes in L’Osteria and Big Mamma last year, the mega-investor in the European foodservice scene expands its gastronomic portfolio in 2024 with another top player: the Danish-born premium-casual brand Sticks’n’Sushi, currently operating 27 units across three markets.
“The agreement marks a new chapter for Sticks’n’Sushi. McWin agrees with the strategy we presented and shares our ambitions for the company,” says Sticks’n’Sushi CEO Andreas Karlsson.
Old acquaintances
For Karlsson and McWin co-founder Henry McGovern, this acquisition completes a circle: Back in 2007, both stood on the stage of the European Foodservice Summit in Zurich, where successful expansion stories were already the focus. While McGovern shared his insights about the transition from west (USA) to east (Poland), Karlsson spoke about expanding from one to ten countries. In 2013, they again discussed in an expert panel at the 14th EFSS about the opportunities and risks of international expansion.
Now they want to take this step together with Sticks’n’Sushi: “We will accelerate our growth in our existing marketsmarkets – the UK, Denmark and Germany, but will also enter completely new markets over the next five years. We see many opportunities arising, with markets like France and DACH being top priorities for us.”
McGovern shares the excitement for the upcoming collaboration: “I have been following the success of Sticks’n’Sushi for the last 15 years and their consistent and confident expansion both in and outside of Denmark. We are delighted to join forces with Andreas on the next leg of growth. This brand has a lot of potential and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve!”
2023 was a record year
With the acquisition, the involvement of Danish private equity investor Maj Invest, who acquired 49 percent of Sticks’n’Sushi in 2013 and an additional 30 percent in 2019, comes to an end. “We are handing over a company with more guests than ever, which last year delivered a record high revenue and profitability,” says Thomas Riis, Partner at Maj Invest.
Harry Goss, Partner and Head of Foodservice at McWin: “We believe that restaurant customers are seeking quality food at a fair price, great service and an experience when they dine out. Sticks’n’Sushi delivers this in spades.” Essential for the further development of the company will be the nurturing of the culture, values, and people who have enabled the previous success.
EFSS Advisory Board Members
Andreas Karlsson has been a longstanding active member of the European Foodservice Summit Advisory Boards, to which Henry McGovern also belonged for more than a decade until 2021. The Sticks’n’Sushi CEO is convinced that with McWin, they have a partner whose primary goal is to further develop excellent gastronomy businesses and sees his previous path confirmed: “We want to continue to grow, but still give each opening the same attention as we did with our very first restaurant.”
About Sticks’n’Sushi:
Founded in Denmark in 1994, Sticks’n’Sushi today has 27 restaurants of which 12 are in Denmark, 12 in the UK and 3 in Germany. The Company has 1,500 employees. In the year ending June 2023 the Group generated DKK 779m (~£90m) of revenues.
About McWin Capital Partners:
McWin is a private investment firm co-founded by Henry McGovern and Steven K. Winegar partnering with exceptional founders and CEOs daring sustainable disruption, principally in the foodservice and food technology sectors.
McWin and affiliates have assets under management of over €1b investing in the global foodservice and food technology sectors at growth and mature stages. Foodservice investments include Gail’s and White Rabbit in the UK, Big Mamma in France, L’Osteria in Germany and several other restaurant groups across Europe
