Craveworthy Brands Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire New England Authentic Eats LLC, Accelerating Wing It On! Expansion

Planned rollout at Papa Gino's Pizzeria expected to triple Wing It On!'s footprint in region, pairing New England pizza heritage with a platform built for restaurant growth

BOSTON, Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- An affiliate of Craveworthy Brands ("Craveworthy"), the multi-brand restaurant platform company, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire New England Authentic Eats LLC ("NEAE"), the Massachusetts-based parent company of Papa Gino's Pizzeria ("Papa Gino's"). Following closing, Craveworthy plans to introduce its Wing It On! brand to every Papa Gino's location across the region.

The acquisition will add more than 160 restaurants and approximately $160 million in annual revenue to Craveworthy's platform, expanding its portfolio to nearly 500 locations and significantly strengthening its New England presence. The transaction is expected to close by Dec. 31, 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

Upon completion of the planned rollout, Wing It On! is expected to grow from 45 restaurants to more than 145 locations. The co-brand strategy pairs Papa Gino's established restaurants and regional recognition with Wing It On!'s ultimate buffalo wing experience, creating a path to expand the wing brand without developing brand-new traditional locations.

Generations of New England Loyalty

Founded in East Boston in 1961, Papa Gino's has brought generations of New Englanders together over handmade pizza rooted in an Italian family recipe. Known as the "Official Pizza of New Englanders," the brand will retain its name, menu and distinct identity as Craveworthy invests in its next chapter.

Founded in Connecticut in 2011, Wing It On! is known for its winning trifecta: perfectly crisp wings, award-winning sauces and house made dips. Its Medium Buffalo sauce has earned first-place honors at the National Buffalo Wing Festival for multiple consecutive years. Introducing the brand at Papa Gino's restaurants pairs New England pizza heritage with Buffalo-inspired flavor, giving guests more ways to build a family meal or game-day order.

Operational Strength, Craveworthy Hospitality

With more than $300 million in systemwide sales prior to the transaction, Craveworthy brings the scale of its shared platform and a hands-on approach to operations. Working alongside NEAE's team, the company will support restaurant and franchise infrastructure through combined purchasing power, integrated technology, advanced training and established systems.

Guided by its people, product and process philosophy, Craveworthy will focus on equipping restaurant leaders and franchisees to execute consistently, deliver exceptional hospitality and prepare for the Wing It On! rollout. The approach brings the strengths of an established regional business together with the resources to support its people and pursue new growth.

Leadership Commentary

"Papa Gino's is a New England institution. People grew up on this pizza, and we're going to honor that," said Gregg Majewski, CEO and founder of Craveworthy. "We protect what makes a brand special, then put our full platform behind it. With Wing It On!, we can build on that foundation and bring something new to the table."

"Pizza and wings belong together. But the menu is only the start," Majewski added. "We win by taking care of our teams, delivering exceptional hospitality and giving operators the support to build stronger businesses. This deal gives us the opportunity to do that at a much greater scale."

Transaction Partners 

Keel Merchant Bank and its affiliate Keel Advisory served as the exclusive financial advisor and Akerman LLP served as legal counsel to Craveworthy.

Harrington Park Advisors served as exclusive financial advisor and Vedder served as legal counsel to NEAE. 

Momentum for the Next Acquisition

The agreement with NEAE advances Craveworthy's strategy of pairing established brands with the infrastructure to strengthen performance and accelerate growth. The company plans to pursue additional acquisitions of comparable scale every six to nine months, with each transaction expanding its operational capabilities and development opportunities.

For more information, visit www.craveworthybrands.com, www.papaginos.com and www.wingiton.com.

ABOUT CRAVEWORTHY BRANDS

Craveworthy Brands is a multi-brand restaurant platform and franchisor with more than 20 concepts and nearly 300 locations in the U.S and internationally. Rooted in a hospitality-first philosophy and powered by people, product and process, the Company builds and scales emerging concepts and legacy brands through a shared infrastructure designed for intentional growth. Its mission is to create 100,000 success stories by 2035 – measured not just in units, but in lives changed across its system. Learn more about Craveworthy and its brands at www.craveworthybrands.com.

ABOUT NEW ENGLAND AUTHENTIC EATS LLC 

New England Authentic Eats LLC, headquartered in Dedham, Massachusetts, is the parent company of Papa Gino's Pizzeria, a beloved New England restaurant brand. Founded in 1961, the brand brings generations of guests together through handmade pizzas and neighborhood hospitality. Learn more at www.papaginos.com.

SOURCE Craveworthy Brands