Franke Acquires C-Store Equipment and Facilities Specialist

In its third acquisition of a chain-focused specialty company in the last 18 months, Franke Foodservice Systems has acquired Chain Link Services, a Fort Worth, Texas, firm offering project and logistics management and procurement services for national foodservice and c-store chain customers. The deal was announced Dec. 3.

In January, Smyrna, Tenn.-based Franke purchased Facility Solutions Inc., a project management firm which it said complemented its business supporting large-scale facility improvement programs for global restaurant brands. Franke acquired Sertek, a QSR fabricator, in 2017.

Chain Link, founded by industry veteran Harold Gernsbacher, is comprised of Turnkey Resources, offering a comprehensive services package for openings and upgrades to large c-store chains; and In Step Foodservice, which helps leading restaurant brands with ground-up development, remodels, or system upgrades.

“Both of our business units are laser-focused on process improvements in procurement, logistics and project management so that our customers can maximize both cost and operational efficiencies,” says Gernsbacher.

Chain Link’s current management team, headed by Kevin Garsek as president, will remain in place.

“We greatly admire the organization and customer base that Harold has built over many years, and we look forward to carrying on that legacy,” states Thomas Campion, CEO of Franke’s global Foodservice Systems business. “Kevin and his team are a perfect fit because their goals are the same as ours. We build deep knowledge of our customers’ business, and then leverage extensive assets and decades of chain experience to help them grow in a way that lowers costs to franchisees while protecting their brands.”