Profile: Meritage Hospitality Group Inc (MHGU.PK)

Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. (Meritage), incorporated on August 8, 1986, operates 86 Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers quick-service restaurants in Western and Southern Michigan, and 29 in the Jacksonville, Florida area, and eight in the Atlanta. The Company also owns and operates three Twisted Rooster casual dining restaurants in Michigan. The Company owns an interest in RDG-MHG, LLC (RDG), an entity that is a 50% partner in a joint venture, TRG-Meritage Bahamas, LLC (TRG). In October 2012, it acquired three additional Wendy's restaurants located in the Charlotte, North Carolina. In Januray 2013, the Company acquired two Wendy's franchised portfolios consisting of nine Wendy's restaurants in Atlanta, GA, and ten Wendy's restaurants in Richmond, VA.

Wendy's Operations

The Company operates Wendy’s restaurants in Western and Southern Michigan, Northeast Florida and Northwest Georgia. Each Wendy’s restaurant offers a menu of food items, including hamburgers and chicken breast sandwitches, all of which are prepared to order with customer’s choice of condiments. The Wendy’s menu also includes chili, baked and French fried potatoes, chicken nuggets, salads, soft drinks, desserts and children’s meals. Each Wendy’s restaurant features soft drinks supplied either by the Pepsi-Cola Company or Coca Cola Company and their respective affiliates. The Company’s restaurants range from 2,700 to 3,400 square feet with seating capacity for 90 to 130 people.

Twisted Rooster/Casual Dining Operations

As of December 31, 2011, Meritage operated three Twisted Rooster casual dining restaurants in Michigan. The Twisted Rooster menu is classic American fare. The emphasis on local products includes local beers, wines and liquors. The Twisted Rooster menu includes locally sourced steaks, signature handhelds, a range of fish, pasta plates, Twisted Rooster’s signature macaroni and cheese, a range of alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine and cocktails. The restaurants are open seven days a week and serve lunch and dinner. Twisted Rooster’s buildings accommodate between 190 and 245 guests, including 50 to 100 bar seats.

The Company competes with Applebee’s, Chili’s and T.G.I. Friday’s.