Equity Firm Buys Garden Fresh Restaurants

Garden Fresh Restaurants, the parent of Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes, has been acquired by Perpetual Capital Partners and CR3 Capital. The 97-unit soup, salad, and bakery chain, based in San Diego, emerged from bankruptcy earlier this year. CR3 Partners led the restructuring and has been managing the company for several months. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. John Haywood, a hospitality industry turnaround specialist who early in his career served as chief concept officer and chief marketing officer for Carrols Corp.’s $565 million Hispanic Restaurant division and led brand strategy and growth of the Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana chains, will helm the company.