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§ 01Who we are

Build iconic brands the world loves.

A diversified, scaled multi-brand operator of iconic, category-leading brands. Permanent capital, unlimited horizon — building for decades, not quarters.

Open units410
Brands9
States27 + DC
System sales$500M+

As of October 2026

§ 02About

A permanent home for great brands, great people, and great partners.

Built to own forever
  1. 01

    Operating excellence first

    We win on the fundamentals in every store. That excellence funds everything else.

  2. 02

    Owner-operators

    Our leaders think, act and earn like owners.

  3. 03

    We buy to keep

    Sellers know their people and legacy are cared for. Brands get a partner for decades.

  4. 04

    Permanent capital

    No fund clock, no exit date. Every decision as if we own it forever.

What makes us different

§ 03Today's portfolio

Nine brands. One operator.

193units 20 states + DC 157 standalone36 co-brand
47units 15 states + DC 46 standalone1 co-brand
1unit 7 states 1 standalone0 co-brand
90units 9 states
7units 1 state
33units 4 states
2units 1 state
15units 2 states
22units 7 states
Today · Food & beverage. Tomorrow · Iconic brands, wherever they live.
§ 04Principles

How we behave, and how we run every store.

Our north star

Operating excellence

Three pillars

01

Perfect product

02

Amazing hospitality

03

Great value

Our values

Lead with love

Win-wins only

Think long

§ 05Footprint

27 states + DC.

GSB operates 410 open units across 27 states and the District of Columbia.

13333342732

Bigger dot, more open units. Hover a state for its brands.Bigger dot, more open units. Tap a state for its brands.

Open units410Operating today
Venues321Some host more than one unit
States27 + DCCoast to coast, and Hawaii
Largest market133California
Open units by state, October 2026
StateOpen unitsBrands
California133Jamba, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's, Dave's Hot Chicken
Texas34Auntie Anne's, Jamba, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Cinnabon
Hawaii33Jamba, Little Caesars
New York32Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon, Carvel, PopUp Bagels, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Jamba
Illinois27Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon, Jamba
New Jersey17Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon
Pennsylvania15Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon, Carvel
Minnesota13Auntie Anne's, Jamba
Nevada13Auntie Anne's, Dave's Hot Chicken, Cinnabon, Nothing Bundt Cakes
Ohio12Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon, Jamba
Florida10Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon, Carvel, Jamba
Maryland9Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon
Massachusetts7Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon, Carvel, Jamba
Wisconsin6Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon, Carvel
Missouri5Auntie Anne's, Carvel
Virginia5Auntie Anne's, Carvel
Connecticut4Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon
Kansas4Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon
Louisiana4Auntie Anne's
District of Columbia2Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon
Indiana2Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon
West Virginia1Auntie Anne's
§ 06Trajectory

From a single shoot to a platform.

2019
Founded
40units

Green Shoot Brands acquires Fresh Dining Concepts. $35M in sales at start.

2023
Scaled
215units
$180M+ sales

Dozens of acquisitions across all four GoTo Foods snack brands make FDC the system's largest franchisee. Rob Solarana joins as CFO; Okey Reese joins as CDO.

2024
Diversify
Phase 2begins

Mike Evans joins as CEO, marking the start of phase two: diversify the portfolio beyond the initial GoTo Foods snack platform.

2025
New platforms
+2brands

Nothing Bundt Cakes and Little Caesars added. Jamie Nelson joins as COO. Andrew Bernstein joins as CIO.

2026
Today
410units +3brands
$500M+ system sales

PopUp Bagels, Dave's Hot Chicken and Jack Brown's added.

2027…
What's next
Moreto come.

New platforms. New brands. New industries.

More platforms to come.
Phase 1 · 2019 — 2023 Scale the foundation.
Phase 2 · 2024 — 2026 Diversify the portfolio.
Phase 3 · 2027 → Compound the platform.
§ 07Team

The team.

Mike Evans
Chief Executive Officer

Leads GSB across more than 400 units and 9 brands. 25+ years in QSR. Former CEO of ACG Texas (one of the largest IHOP franchisees in the U.S.). 18 years in the Pizza Hut system. Joined 2024.

Jamie Nelson
Chief Operating Officer

Oversees day-to-day operations across all GSB brands and regions. 30+ years in restaurant operations. Former COO of American West (300+ Pizza Huts, 6,000+ employees, $285M revenue). Joined 2025.

Rob Solarana
Chief Financial Officer

Leads finance, accounting, and reporting across the GSB platform. Four years on Burger King's corporate finance team. Built FDC's support center from the ground up. Joined 2023.

Kevin Bush
Founder & Executive Chairman

Founded Green Shoot Brands in 2019 and has led its strategy and direction since. 10+ years of institutional investing at Fidelity Investments. Joined 2019.

Andrew Bernstein
Chief Investment Officer

Leads new platform acquisitions and capital allocation at GSB. 15+ years in institutional investing at Fidelity, Artisan Partners, and MSD Capital. Joined 2025.

Okey Reese
Chief Development Officer

Leads real estate strategy and new development across all GSB brands. 20+ years in retail real estate. 13 years at GoTo Foods running site selection for Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon, and other national concepts. Joined 2023.

§ 08Press

In the press.

Industry coverage of GSB (then Fresh Dining Concepts) and the operators behind it. Most recent first.

  1. QSR MagazineOct 2026 Fresh Dining Concepts Rebrands as Green Shoot Brands (opens in new tab)
  2. Franchising.comOct 2026 Multi-Brand Restaurant Operator Fresh Dining Concepts Rebrands as Green Shoot Brands (opens in new tab)
  3. NewsdaySep 2026 Why PopUp Bagels appeals on Long Island, where mom-and-pop bagel shops reign (opens in new tab)
  4. Franchise TimesAug 2026 Franchise Times Restaurant 200 (opens in new tab)
  5. Franchise TimesJul 2026 Restaurant 200: Meet the Largest Franchisees in the Country (opens in new tab)
  6. Franchise TimesJul 2026 C-Store, Travel Center Openings Power Major Expansion at Cinnabon (opens in new tab)
  7. QNSJul 2026 Nothing Bundt Cakes and PopUp Bagels set to open at Bay Terrace Shopping Center this fall (opens in new tab)
  8. Franchising.comJul 2026 2026 Multi-Brand 50: Scale Evolves into Strategy (opens in new tab)
  9. SouthforkerJun 2026 PopUp Bagels arrives in Westhampton Beach (opens in new tab)
  10. GlobeNewswireMay 2026 PopUp Bagels Makes Its East End Debut in Westhampton (opens in new tab)
  11. Long Island Business NewsMar 2026 Fresh Dining Concepts expands on Long Island with PopUp Bagels and Nothing Bundt Cakes (opens in new tab)
  12. Franchise TimesJul 2025 Franchise Times Restaurant 200 (opens in new tab)
  13. Franchise TimesOct 2024 New CEO Sees More Growth Ahead for Large Auntie Anne's Franchisee (opens in new tab)
  14. Franchise TimesAug 2024 Franchise Times Restaurant 200 (opens in new tab)
  15. Franchise TimesMay 2024 Buyers Overcome Unique Challenges to Add Jack in the Box, Jamba in the Pacific (opens in new tab)
  16. Franchise TimesMay 2024 Auntie Anne's Parent Pushes Co-branding to Drive Unit Growth (opens in new tab)
  17. Franchise TimesAug 2023 Franchise Times Restaurant 200 (opens in new tab)
  18. QSR MagazineJul 2023 Focus Brands' Largest Franchisee Acquires 27 Jamba Locations (opens in new tab)
  19. Blue Pacific BrandsApr 2023 Rapidly Expanding Franchise Operator Fresh Dining Concepts Acquires Jamba Hawaiʻi (opens in new tab)
  20. Franchise TimesAug 2022 Franchise Times Restaurant 200 (opens in new tab)
  21. Franchise TimesApr 2022 Meet the 30-Something Investors Storming the Franchise Field (opens in new tab)
  22. Franchising.comMar 2022 One of the Largest Focus Brands Franchisees Expands to 146 Locations (opens in new tab)
  23. QSRwebMar 2022 Fresh Dining Concepts Acquires 73 Auntie Anne's Locations (opens in new tab)
  24. QSR MagazineFeb 2022 Franchisee Fresh Dining Concepts Acquires 73 Auntie Anne's Locations (opens in new tab)
  25. Franchise TimesDec 2021 Co-branded Units Part of Growth Push for Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's Franchisee (opens in new tab)
  26. Nation's Restaurant NewsNov 2021 Auntie Anne's and Cinnabon Sign 10-Unit Co-brand Development Agreement to Expand in New York City (opens in new tab)
  27. 1851 FranchiseJun 2021 How to Succeed as a Multi-Unit Franchisee: Luis San Miguel, Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon and Carvel (opens in new tab)
  28. Franchising.comFeb 2021 Counting His Own Beans: Halfway to 100 With 3 Brands (opens in new tab)
§ 09Contact

Talk to us.

Real people. Real replies. We read everything that comes in.

For sellers

Considering a sale?

Operator-to-operator. We move quickly, in good faith, and always with the brand in mind.

sellers@greenshootbrands.com
For media

Press & brand

For brand inquiries, on-the-record requests, and press. We'll get back to you.

press@greenshootbrands.com
For careers

Join the team

Want to build with us? Send a note and your résumé.

careers@greenshootbrands.com
General inquiries

Anything else

For everything that doesn't fit a specific channel. We'll route it where it needs to go.

hello@greenshootbrands.com