Chicken Salad Chick acquires Piece of Cake bakery chain

Chicken Salad is sweetening its menu offerings via an acquisition.

The fast-growing, fast-casual chicken salad restaurant chain has acquired Atlanta-based Piece of Cake, which operates 10 stores in the metro-Atlanta area. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Piece of Cake was founded in 1985 by Melissa Jernigan, who will remain involved as the company's 'Cakexpert.'  Its cakes, which are all hand-frosted, are baked from scratch using family recipes and traditional baking ingredients.

Following the close of the transaction, Chicken Salad Chick will begin plans to bring the bakery's cakes to its 245 restaurants, where they will offered as the signature dessert offering following successful market tests across select locations. The cakes will be available both whole and by-the-slice and featured on the menu for dine-in, take-out, digital ordering and drive thru.

 Piece of Cake's ten locations (including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport) will continue to operate business as usual. And all 120 Atlanta-area Piece of Cake employees are expected to be retained following the acquisition.

"Over the years, Piece of Cake cakes have been a mainstay at the table as our family celebrated holidays and special occasions together," said Scott Deviney, CEO, Chicken Salad Chick. “This collaboration further enhances our mission of spreading joy, enriching lives and serving others… one piece of cake at a time."

"After nearly 40 years, it seems like the right time to pursue this opportunity with Chicken Salad Chick," said Piece of Cake's Jernigan. "Both brands began in home kitchens – Piece of Cake in my Atlanta condo and Chicken Salad Chick in Stacy Brown's home in Auburn. What wonderful synergy, as both businesses are committed to serving time-honored, made-from-scratch recipes loved by our customers."

Founded in 2008 in Auburn, Ala., by Stacy and Kevin Brown, Chicken Salad Chick has grown to 245 restaurants in 18 states. The company is continuing its rapid expansion with both franchise and company locations.  According to data from Technomic Ignite, average unit volumes are about $1.4 million.