Hamra Enterprises completes second-largest acquisition

A year after signing the largest deal in the company’s history, Springfield-based Hamra Enterprises has followed up with its second-biggest acquisition.

Hamra Enterprises Director of Brand Marketing Eve Metheny said in the deal announced yesterday, the company bought 25 Wendy’s restaurants in the Chicago market from The Wendy’s Co. (Nasdaq: WEN) subsidiary Wendy’s International LLC. The sale by Wendy’s International is part of the chain’s goal to reduce its brick-and-mortar ownership to 5 percent of the 6,500-restaurant system.

“It speaks a lot to the faith of Wendy’s International that they have for us,” Metheny said, declining to disclose the purchase price.

With the purchase, Hamra Enterprises expanded its Wendy’s holdings into Illinois for the first time and its total portfolio in the Wendy’s chain to 90 stores, including 35 in Missouri. Metheny said Hamra Enterprises now operates 161 restaurants under the Wendy’s, Panera Bread and Noodles & Co. brands, as well as a Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites in Lewisville, Texas.

A year ago, Hamra Enterprises bought 30 Wendy’s restaurants in the Boston area, a deal that was expected to grow the Springfield company’s revenue by 30 percent in 2016. According to Springfield Business Journal archives, Hamra Enterprise’s revenue was expected to land at $250 million in 2015. Metheny declined to update revenue figures.

Founded in 1975 by Sam Hamra, the company began operating Wendy’s franchises a year later. His son Mike Hamra now leads the company as president and CEO.