PRIVATE EQUITY / M&A

Program Overview

CKG Hospitality and Graham Hospitality Strategy deliver a specialized Investment & Acquisition Readiness Program designed to position hospitality businesses—including restaurants, food manufacturers, and multi-unit groups—for successful private equity investment, strategic acquisition, or sale. Our comprehensive, tailored approach ensures your business is not only running efficiently but is also primed to attract serious investor interest and command a premium valuation.

We work closely with ownership teams to enhance operational systems, clarify financials, develop leadership infrastructure, and align brand positioning with market expectations. The result: a more scalable, profitable, and buyer-ready business.

Program Pillars

  1. Operational Readiness & Standardization

    • Streamline kitchen and service operations

    • Standardize SOPs across departments

    • Strengthen procurement, labor, and inventory systems

  2. Financial Clarity & Profitability Enhancement

    • Deep-dive financial analysis (COGS, labor, waste)

    • Improve EBITDA through cost controls and menu margin optimization

    • Establish clean, investor-ready reporting & KPI dashboards

  3. Brand Positioning & Market Differentiation

    • Refine brand identity and guest experience

    • Ensure alignment with market trends and growth audiences

    • Position brand for scale or franchise development

  4. Leadership & Organizational Infrastructure

    • Build mid-management capability and reduce owner dependency

    • Implement leadership SOPs, org charts, and training frameworks

    • Increase operational autonomy for investor appeal

  5. Growth Strategy & Expansion Planning

    • Create location rollout and market entry strategies

    • Develop franchise models or investor pitch decks

    • Model projected ROI and resource allocation plans

  6. Due Diligence Preparation

    • Organize lease, vendor, legal, and HR documentation

    • Ensure health, safety, and compliance readiness

    • Support owner/operator through negotiation prep

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Who is this program for?
A: Restaurant operators, food manufacturers, and hospitality brands preparing for private equity investment, partnership, or sale.

Q: How long does the program take?
A: Typically 6–12 weeks depending on business size and readiness level. We also offer fast-track 4-week programs for businesses with imminent deal opportunities.

Q: What if my financials aren’t clean or current?
A: That’s part of what we help with. We’ll work with your bookkeeper or accountant to organize and refine your reporting and identify profitability improvements.

Q: Do you work with brokers or M&A advisors?
A: Yes—we often collaborate with investment bankers, brokers, and legal teams to ensure alignment across your advisory board during a sale or investment process.

Q: Will you help present to potential investors?
A: Absolutely. We assist in pitch preparation, investor Q&A readiness, and can even co-present or provide investor-facing materials.

Q: What happens after the deal?
A: We offer post-deal integration support, transition planning, and continued operational leadership during the first 90–180 days of ownership change.

Case Study #1: Positioning a Manufacturer for Private Equity Investment

Client: Regional Specialty Protein Manufacturer (Midwest) Challenge: A private equity firm was evaluating a majority stake in the company, but operational inefficiencies and unclear financial reporting were raising red flags.

What We Did:

  • Conducted a full plant audit and restructured the labor flow and yield tracking systems

  • Standardized recipe and production SOPs to ensure consistency and compliance

  • Worked with internal accounting to clean up reporting, improve inventory valuation, and clarify EBITDA

  • Built investor-facing dashboards and pitch support materials

Result: The client secured a strategic investment with a 20% higher valuation than projected due to improved operational and financial clarity. Post-investment, GHS stayed on to assist in scaling to a second facility.

Case Study #2: Getting a Restaurant Group Ready for Sale

Client: Upscale Casual Dining Group (Southeast) Challenge: Ownership was looking to exit after 10 years of growth but lacked SOPs, formal leadership layers, and had a brand that hadn’t been refreshed in years.

What We Did:

  • Refined and documented all FOH and BOH systems and cross-trained key staff

  • Introduced a mid-management structure and daily accountability frameworks

  • Conducted a menu profitability analysis, leading to a 4% improvement in food cost

  • Revamped the brand look, guest journey, and created a pitch deck for potential buyers

  • Organized all documentation needed for due diligence, including health records, vendor contracts, and training manuals

Result: The group was acquired by a regional investment firm looking to scale the brand to adjacent markets. The seller achieved a strong multiple on earnings, and CKG supported the transition over 90 days post-sale.

Let’s Position Your Business for Its Next Big Chapter

Whether you’re preparing for investment, ready to scale, or looking for a strategic exit, CKG Hospitality and Graham Hospitality Strategy offer the tools, insight, and execution to get you there.

Contact us today to schedule a discovery call and begin the readiness journey. [Email Address] | [Phone Number] | [Website URL]

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