§ 01 / Who 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.

Locations 388
Brands 8
States 21+ DC
System sales $425M

As of May 2026 · 388 open units.
403 at year-end run-rate.

§ 02 · About

A company that finds iconic brands, and helps them grow.

Find
See the seed.

Brands people already love. The ones with another level in them.

Grow
Nurture the shoot.

Permanent capital. No exit clock. We compound, we don't flip.

Scale
Grow the forest.

The playbook, again and again. New brands. New categories.

§ 03 · Today's portfolio

Eight brands. One operator.

Auntie Anne's
154 units · 20 states + DC
Cinnabon
46 units · 15 states + DC
Carvel
Co-brand · 7 states
Jamba
92 units · 9 states
Little Caesars
7 units · 1 state
Nothing Bundt Cakes
25 units · 4 states
Popup Bagels
Opening May 2026
Dave's Hot Chicken
7 units · 2 states

Today · Restaurants.   Tomorrow · Iconic brands, wherever they live.

§ 04 · Principles

Three principles. Every decision runs through them.

01
Operations is at our core.

Perfect product. Amazing experience. Whatever the category, the product comes first — we don't serve what we wouldn't buy. Every interaction — guest, employee, partner, investor — shapes what the brand is. We sweat the details that compound.

02
People first. Always.

Lead with love. Take care of our people, and our people will take care of our guests. Reputation is everything — we treat every person in the system, from employees to partners to vendors to investors, the way we'd want to be treated.

03
Play the long game.

We're building for decades, not quarters. Permanent capital with an unlimited horizon — no fund clock, no forced exits, no quarterly theater. That lets us think and operate differently.

§ 05 · Footprint

21 states + DC.

GSB operates 388 open units across 21 states and the District of Columbia. Tap a green dot for the state file — unit count, brand & co-brand mix, top metros.

Open footprint · 1 → 125 units
Loading footprint…
§ 06 · Trajectory

From a single shoot to a platform.

2019
Founded
50units
GSP Snacks acquires Fresh Dining Concepts. $35M in sales at start.
Auntie Anne's Cinnabon Carvel Jamba
2023
Scaled
$200M+sales
Mall concentration drops from 100% to ~60%. Diversification underway. Rob Solarana joins as CFO.
2024
Leadership
CEOhired
Mike Evans joins as CEO. 25+ years in QSR.
2025
New platforms
+2brands
Nothing Bundt Cakes and Little Caesars added. Jamie Nelson joins as COO. Andrew Bernstein joins as CIO.
Nothing Bundt Cakes Little Caesars
2026
Today
388 units
+2 brands
Rebrand from Fresh Dining Concepts to Green Shoot Brands. 8 brands. 21 states + DC. $425M system sales at YE run-rate. Popup Bagels launches in May.
Popup Bagels Dave's Hot Chicken
2027…
What's next
Moreto come.
New platforms. New brands. New industries.
? ? ?
Phase 1 2019 — 2024
Build the foundation.
Phase 2 2025 →
Compound the platform.
§ 07 · Team

The team.

Mike Evans
Chief Executive Officer

Leads GSB across 400+ units and 8 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
Executive Chairman & Chief Strategy Officer

Founded Green Shoot Brands in 2019. 6 years leading overall strategy and direction. 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.

§ 08 · Press

In the press.

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

  1. Franchise Times Jul 2025

    Franchise Times Restaurant 200

  2. Franchise Times Oct 2024

    New CEO Sees More Growth Ahead for Large Auntie Anne's Franchisee

  3. Franchise Times Aug 2024

    Franchise Times Restaurant 200

  4. Franchise Times May 2024

    Buyers Overcome Unique Challenges to Add Jack in the Box, Jamba in the Pacific

  5. Franchise Times May 2024

    Auntie Anne's Parent Pushes Co-branding to Drive Unit Growth

  6. Franchise Times Aug 2023

    Franchise Times Restaurant 200

  7. QSR Magazine Jul 2023

    Focus Brands' Largest Franchisee Acquires 27 Jamba Locations

  8. Franchise Times Aug 2022

    Franchise Times Restaurant 200

  9. QSR Magazine Jun 2022

    Focus Brands' Largest Operator Nabs $44M Investment

  10. Franchise Times Apr 2022

    Meet the 30-Something Investors Storming the Franchise Field

  11. Franchising.com Mar 2022

    One of the Largest Focus Brands Franchisees Expands to 146 Locations

  12. QSRweb Mar 2022

    Fresh Dining Concepts Acquires 73 Auntie Anne's Locations

  13. QSR Magazine Feb 2022

    Franchisee Fresh Dining Concepts Acquires 73 Auntie Anne's Locations

  14. Franchise Times Dec 2021

    Co-branded Units Part of Growth Push for Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's Franchisee

  15. Nation's Restaurant News Nov 2021

    Auntie Anne's and Cinnabon Sign 10-Unit Co-brand Development Agreement to Expand in New York City

  16. 1851 Franchise Jun 2021

    How to Succeed as a Multi-Unit Franchisee: Luis San Miguel, Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon and Carvel

  17. Franchising.com Feb 2021

    Counting His Own Beans: Halfway to 100 With 3 Brands

  18. BusinessWire Dec 2019

    Boathouse Capital Completes Investment in Fresh Dining Concepts

§ 09 · Contact

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
Operators we want to know
Multi-unit operators, finance leaders, and category specialists. We hire slowly and well.
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
Headquarters
1600 Ponce de Leon Blvd
Coral Gables, FL 33134

Where the platform lives.