Consortium Brand Partners to Acquire California Pizza Kitchen in Strategic Multi-Partner Deal

• Convive Brands to lead global operations and act as master franchisor

• Deal backed by Bain Capital Credit; closing expected December 2025

• Focus on restaurant expansion, retail growth, and convenience-led innovation

New York: California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), one of the most recognisable names in American casual dining, is set to enter a new phase of growth following a definitive agreement for its acquisition by Consortium Brand Partners (CBP) in partnership with Eldridge Industries, Aurify Brands, and Convive Brands.

Under the terms of the agreement, Convive Brands will take charge of global restaurant operations and serve as the master franchisor for all CPK locations worldwide. Jon Weber, Chief Executive Officer of Convive Brands, will assume the role of CEO of the CPK restaurant group, overseeing day-to-day operations and international expansion. The transaction is supported by a combination of debt and equity financing from Bain Capital Credit and is expected to close in December 2025, subject to customary regulatory approvals.

The acquisition is designed to reinforce California Pizza Kitchen’s position as a leader in elevated casual dining, while also accelerating growth across franchising, retail food products, and convenience-driven formats. Industry executives involved in the deal say the partnership brings together complementary strengths in brand building, restaurant operations, and consumer product expansion.

Founded in 1985 in Beverly Hills, California Pizza Kitchen was among the first restaurant chains to redefine pizza with a distinctly California-inspired twist. Signature offerings such as the Original BBQ Chicken Pizza helped the brand carve out a unique identity focused on creativity, fresh ingredients, and bold flavours. Nearly four decades later, CPK continues to enjoy strong brand recognition and a loyal customer base.

Today, CPK operates more than 120 restaurants across 10 countries, serving diners in the US and international markets. Beyond its restaurant footprint, the brand has built a fast-growing consumer packaged goods (CPG) business, with frozen pizzas and related products available in over 10,000 grocery stores worldwide. This dual presence across restaurants and retail has become a key pillar of the brand’s growth strategy.

In recent years, California Pizza Kitchen has also invested in convenience-focused innovation, including the launch and pilot of a pizza vending machine concept. These machines deliver freshly baked, triple-heated CPK pizzas at high-traffic locations such as airports, college campuses, and entertainment venues—signalling the brand’s willingness to adapt to changing consumer habits.

According to CBP, the acquisition builds on CPK’s recent operational momentum. The chain reportedly delivered same-store sales growth in 2025 that outperformed the broader casual dining industry, positioning it well for the next stage of domestic and international expansion.

Jonathan Greller, President and Co-founder of Consortium Brand Partners, described California Pizza Kitchen as a brand with enduring cultural relevance. He said the partnership aims to honour CPK’s heritage while expanding its global footprint, growing its grocery presence, and exploring new product categories that align with its California-inspired identity.

Jon Weber of Convive Brands echoed the sentiment, noting that the focus will remain on empowering restaurant teams, maintaining culinary quality, and introducing the brand to a new generation of guests. With Convive’s operational expertise and franchising experience, the partners see significant opportunity to scale CPK both in established and emerging markets.

For CBP, the deal marks its fourth major acquisition, following investments in consumer brands such as Jonathan Adler®, Draper James®, and Outdoor Voices®. The addition of California Pizza Kitchen expands CBP’s portfolio into the food, beverage, and hospitality sector, further diversifying its consumer brand platform.

Aurify Brands, which has deep experience in building and scaling restaurant concepts, acted as an advisor on the transaction. Legal counsel for the deal was provided by Winston & Strawn LLP for CBP, while Reed Smith LLP represented Eldridge Industries and Convive Brands.

Market watchers say the transaction reflects renewed investor confidence in established restaurant brands with strong emotional connect, scalable franchising models, and multi-channel growth potential. With new ownership and operational leadership in place, California Pizza Kitchen appears poised to strengthen its global presence while staying true to the creativity that defined its early success.