Franchisee takes over ownership of Friendly's, under the control of Brix Holdings.
In a significant move, Brix Holdings, the owner of popular restaurant brands such as Friendly's, Clean Juice, Orange Leaf, Red Mango, Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, Souper Salad, and Humble Donut Co., has been acquired by Legacy Brands International. The new owner, led by Amol Kohli, a former Friendly's waiter who began operating locations in 2009, plans to significantly grow Brix's restaurant network, particularly by expanding the Friendly’s brand into Southern U.S. markets such as Georgia, the Carolinas, and Texas.
Under the new ownership, Kohli, who is now the chairman of Brix's board, aims to increase the size, scale, and infrastructure of all Brix franchise networks, leveraging his extensive experience operating more than 30 Friendly’s locations on the East Coast.
Despite the terms of the deal remaining undisclosed, the acquisition occurred after a promising first half of 2025 for Brix, which has already opened several new locations, has numerous others in development, and recorded positive same-store sales in 2024. The company has awarded eight new franchise agreements so far in 2025, reflecting continued momentum across its portfolio of brands.
The existing leadership team, including CEO Sherif Mityas, remains in place at Brix’s Dallas headquarters to oversee operations and growth. In addition to geographic expansion for Friendly’s, Legacy Brands International also intends to grow Brix’s health-focused brands and consider acquiring additional restaurant brands to complement the portfolio.
JAMCO Interests, the majority owner of Brix, will remain involved as an investor in Legacy Brands International. However, Amol Kohli will take the reins as the chairman of Brix, marking a new era for the company.
Despite systemwide sales declines last year at Friendly's, Red Mango, Orange Leaf, and Clean Juice, it's worth noting that Friendly's same-store sales increased by 1%, Orange Leaf's rose by 14%, and Red Mango's were up by 6.2%. Clean Juice, one of Brix Holdings' brands, struggled significantly last year, with systemwide sales nearly decreasing by 30% and numerous store closures.
In summary, this strategic growth under new ownership highlights a continuity of leadership with renewed emphasis on both geographic expansion and brand portfolio development for Brix Holdings. With Kohli at the helm, the company is poised to make significant strides in the restaurant industry, particularly in the Southern U.S. markets.
- Kohli, as the new chairman of Brix's board, aims to grow the business on a larger scale, not just expanding the Friendly’s brand but also focusing on the growth of Brix's health-focused brands and even acquiring additional restaurant brands to complement the portfolio, demonstrating Kohli's ambitions in the franchising industry.
- The acquisition of Brix Holdings by Legacy Brands International was a promising move, occurring after a successful first half of 2025 for Brix. Leveraging Kohli's extensive experience in finance and business operations, the company plans to increase the size and infrastructure of its franchise networks, indicating a significant shift in the industry landscape.
