CMG operates more than 275 restaurants in the US.
AB Wire
The Chalak Mitra Group (CMG), headquartered in Dallas, Texas, who own and operate restaurant concepts across America, including one of the largest KFC franchises in the country, is in contention to be the new owner of the IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), which was previously owned by liquor baron Vijay Mallya.
CMG had recently bought a cricket franchise in the Caribbean Premier League: the Jamaica Tallawahs, who are the reigning Limacol CPL champions. The team includes Chris Gayle and Kumar Sangakkara.
Manish Patel, Chairman and President of CMG, said in a statement after acquiring Jamaica Tallawahs: “…As a group we are passionate about cricket and after seeing the success of the CPL last year, we knew this was something we wanted to be a part of.”
CMG was founded by seven friends from India. They have also garnered sponsorship deals with NBA teams Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks.
CMG representatives have been in India meeting several IPL officials and franchise owners to understand various nuance of propositional approach. RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka has already confirmed his interest via his Twitter account, reported Sports Keeda.
A source close to RCB said, “I cannot get into details, but yes they were in India to discuss all things IPL. Will not comment further on this issue.”
Earlier, JSW Chairman Sajjan Jindal confirmed that his company was buying an IPL team. However, he specifically refrained from revealing the name. He said, “Moneywise I don’t think that is the issue (because), the idea is that we want to take some credible team so that we can promote sports.”
He added, “Cricket is the number one sport in our country so there is an idea to acquire a team… an IPL team. But, I cannot comment which team would be.”
Mallya had bought RCB for $111.6 million, the second highest bid in the IPL.
CMG currently owns and operates over 275 restaurants with annual revenues of $350 million. These include over 105 Genghis Grill, Build Your Own Stir Fry eateries in Dallas, the 11-unit, Baker Bros American Deli fast-casual chain, a full service craft cocktail kitchen called Pepper Smash, a five-unit Tex-Mex casual dining concept called Ruby Tequilas, a three-unit, fast casual Italian brand called, Go Roma, and a four-unit polished casual brand, Fireside Pies.
The company also has investments in various other projects including hotels, real estate and manufacturing. CMG is also a franchise partner of Yum Brands, thru its affiliate company, Mitra QSR in over 140 Kentucky Fried Chicken/Taco Bell units across 12 states. It is also a franchisee of Twin Peaks restaurants and La Madeleine Country French Cafes.
CMG also has current hotel holdings with Hilton and Marriott branded limited service properties. In addition, CMG’s private equity arm has raised over $50 million in private capital over the last 10 years, making various other investments in real estate, hospitality, and manufacturing. Its most recent manufacturing acquisition is with a functional beverage and alcohol bottling plant, Southwest Bottling & Co-Packing, LLC based in Dallas, according to a company press release.
The American Bazaar had reported that in May, 2015, CMG lost its franchise of Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco, Texas, where a deadly fight between biker gangs Bandidos and Cossacks turned into a bloodbath, which left at least 9 people dead, scores injured and resulted in 170 people arrested.
Twin Peaks, according to its website, is a sports lodge offering ‘made-from-scratch comfort food,’ draft beer, and the Twin Peaks Girls who, are dressed scantily.
The Dallas Morning News broke the news of the restaurant severing its ties with the CMG, which was running the franchise since August 11, 2014.
Read that story here: http://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2015/05/18/dallas-based-chalak-mitra-group-loses-its-franchise-of-twin-peaks-restaurant-after-biker-gang-war-leaves-9-people-dead-in-texas/