Friendly's Ice Cream, LLC Finalizes Sale Of Retail Ice Cream And Manufacturing Business To Dean Foods Company

WILBRAHAM, Mass., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Friendly's Ice Cream, LLC announced today that it has finalized the sale of its Retail Ice Cream and Manufacturing business from an affiliate of Friendly's Ice Cream, LLC to Dallas, Texas-based Dean Foods Company, a leading food and beverage company and the largest processor and direct-to-store distributor of fresh fluid milk and other dairy and dairy case products in the United States, for the amount of $155 million in cash.

As of today, the restaurant organization will continue as FIC Restaurants, Inc., as it operates and franchises over 260 Friendly's restaurants offering signature ice cream sundaes and other treats in the eastern United States. FIC Restaurants, Inc. is owned by an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., and the existing senior restaurant management team will continue to lead the Friendly's restaurant business.

"This agreement is the result of 105% growth of our retail business over the past five years, as well as the successful repositioning of our restaurant business," said John Maguire, CEO of FIC Restaurants. "Dean Foods possesses the growth capabilities and expertise to take the Friendly's retail ice cream business to the next level of its meteoric rise."

Led by its current experienced retail and creamery teams, the Friendly's Ice Cream business, under the ownership of Dean Foods Company, will continue to operate out of the facility in Wilbraham, Massachusetts that for over 45 years has produced Friendly's popular packaged ice cream and frozen dessert products, including single-serve sundae cups, cakes and rolls, along with ice cream for Friendly's restaurants.

"Friendly's restaurants have experienced tremendous growth in sales and guest traffic over the last 15 months; a direct result of the introduction of new and exciting menu items, compelling value propositions, the addition of drive-thru windows and extensive renovations to existing locations," noted Maguire. 

Friendly's restaurants are poised for continued market share growth with the transaction allowing Friendly's restaurant management team to continue to focus on maintaining growth momentum in new and existing markets.

Founded in 1935 in Springfield, Massachusetts, Friendly's Ice Cream was created by brothers Curtis and Prestley Blake at the height of the Great Depression, and has since enjoyed 81 years as America's beloved ice cream brand. Today, Friendly's restaurants continue to serve guests the same high-quality, great tasting ice cream and ice cream treats they've come to know and love in a bright and friendly atmosphere.

Lazard Middle Market served as financial advisor to Friendly's Ice Cream on the transaction, and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius was the company's legal advisor.

About FIC Restaurants, Inc.:

FIC Restaurants, Inc. is a restaurant company that operates under an iconic brand name (Friendly's), serving signature sandwiches, burgers and ice cream desserts in friendly, full service restaurants.  Together with its franchisees, the company has system-wide sales of over $320 million. For over 80 years, Friendly's restaurants and their dedicated service teams have delighted generations of guests by offering every day value on great tasting food and ice cream creations. For the future, Friendly's has plans for introducing new and innovative food and ice cream offerings, bright new restaurants, and unique ways to reach and satisfy guests. For additional information please visit www.friendlys.com.

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SOURCE Friendly’s Ice Cream, LLC