Forever Brands Buys Stake In Falafill

Chicago-based Forever Brands has acquired a 50% stake in the Mediterranean restaurant chain Falafill and intends to grow the franchise by at least 10 locations in 2015, mostly in the Chicago area and the Midwest.

Forever Brands, which owns the 30-unit Forever Yogurt chain, will take a 50% equity stake in Falafill in exchange for financing, certain corporate services and access to its franchising platform. Falafill founder Maher Chebaro will join Forever Brands as executive chef.

Forever Brands CEO Mandy Calara started working with Chebaro earlier this year to develop recipes for Forever Brands’ new bubble tea and bao concept, Bee & Tea, which debuted last summer. Calara says he hopes to package the three concepts in co-branded stores.

Falafill, a fast-casual concept that opened its first restaurant in 2009, plans to open a Detroit restaurant in November and will launch a store in Madison, Wis., adjacent to a Forever Yogurt store, by year-end.