Muscle Maker’s Strategic Partnership With AGGIA Could Be Pivotal As The Company Continues To Grow Its Franchise And Global Footprint By Ernest Dela Aglanu, Benzinga
League City, TX
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December 27, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Muscle Maker Inc. (NASDAQ: GRIL) is aggressively embarking on an expansion drive, aiming to provide more consumers with healthier versions of mainstream-favorite dishes that taste great, making it easy, affordable and enjoyable to eat healthily.
A recent announcement of a company diversification initiative with AGGIA LLC FZ, an international business involved in shipping, sourcing, trading and farming of physical commodities, could chart a new growth path for the company and potentially shape the industry’s future.
Shaping The Industry’s Future?
Instead of taking the route of a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC), a trend that appears to be dying, Muscle Maker is exploring a different sort of diversification initiative by forming a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Sadot LLC, and hiring AGGIA LLC FZ to perform the day-to-day operations of the new subsidiary. AGGIA can achieve a change of control by generating net income through Sadot, LLC.
“We have engaged AGGIA on a pay-for-performance basis. AGGIA only earns shares of Muscle Maker common stock if net income is generated by Sadot LLC. The shares of common stock are calculated by dividing the net income generated for an applicable quarter by a premium share price of $1.5625 per share,” Roper disclosed in an interview (below) with Benzinga.
Over time, AGGIA can gain control of Muscle Maker’s Board of Directors once $9.9 million in net income is generated by Sadot LLC. AGGIA may earn up to 14,424,275 shares of common stock, which would require Sadot LLC to generate $22,537,929 in net income. Upon AGGIA earning the maximum amount of shares of common stock, if net income is generated, it shall be accrued as debt.
Any incremental costs incurred by Muscle Maker will be paid monthly by Sadot LLC and all cash on hand in Muscle Maker today remains focused on the Pokémoto franchise strategy.
“We continue to execute against growing the franchise business model through Pokémoto, so we’re over there doing that, as AGGIA comes in and helps diversify the company in this commodity side of the business. So pretty significant impact on the business overall,” Roper noted.
Aggia Brings Significant Expertise In Food And Agriculture Supply Chains
AGGIA is an international consulting firm led by senior executives with significant backgrounds in the food and agricultural supply chain industries.
A statement explaining the initiative said AGGIA’s team possesses expertise in moving various grains and other food products around the world. Sadot LLC will primarily participate in sourcing, distributing, and producing agricultural products.
A typical transaction consists of shipping grains via cargo ship from one country to another containing 25,000 to 70,000 metric tons of grains with values ranging between $5 million and $40 million per shipment. These transactions would be considered as providing services akin to being “truckers of the seas'' and an integral part of feeding the world.
Focus On Growth And Shareholder Value
Providing “Great Food with Your Health in Mind,” ™ Muscle Maker Grill’s menu features grass-fed steak and all-natural chicken. The menu also has options that satisfy an array of dietary preferences, from vegetarians to low-carb consumers and guests following a gluten-free diet. Since 1995 when it was founded, the company reports its diverse menu was created for everyone – fitness enthusiasts, those starting their journey to a healthier lifestyle, and people trying to eat better while on the go.
This positioning towards accessible and healthy food has made the company a favorite of many, especially in an industry with players such as Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM), McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD), Wendys Co. (NASDAQ: WEN) and Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK).
Apart from its Muscle Maker Grill restaurants, the company also runs Pokemoto Hawaiian Poke and SuperFit Foods meal prep to provide more options for its increasing customer base.
The management at Muscle Maker, led by its CEO Michael Roper, says it is constantly looking into diversifying and growing the company.
“In the last six months, we’ve been going pretty well against developing the franchise growth strategy with our pokey (Pokemoto Hawaiian Poke) model brand. We have actually signed over 50 franchise agreements here recently and started opening up some of those locations,” Roper told Benzinga in an interview.
Muscle Maker, Inc. is the parent company of “healthier for you” brands delivering high-quality healthy food options to consumers through traditional and non-traditional locations such as military bases, universities, delivery and direct to consumer ready-made meal prep options. Brands include Muscle Maker Grill restaurants, Pokemoto Hawaiian Poke and SuperFit Foods meal prep. Our menus highlight healthier versions of traditional and non-traditional dishes and feature grass fed steak, lean turkey, chicken breast, Ahi tuna, salmon, shrimp, tofu and plant-based options. For more information on Muscle Maker, Inc., visit www.musclemakergrill.com, for more information on Pokemoto visit www.pokemoto.com or for more information on SuperFit Foods visit www.superfitfoods.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may include “forward-looking statements” pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. To the extent that the information presented in this press release discusses financial projections, information, or expectations about our business plans, results of operations, products or markets, or otherwise makes statements about future events, such statements are forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “should”, “may,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “expects,” “plans,” and “proposes.” Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. You are urged to carefully review and consider any cautionary statements and other disclosures, including the statements made under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in documents that we file from time to time with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are contained, and Muscle Maker, Inc., does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statements except as may be required by law.
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