Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen: Get a Lot. For Not a Lot
May 21, 2022
We’re all about good food, made well, for a good price.
Founded in 1979 by Aubry Good and Doug Rogers, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, formerly known as Cheddar’s Casual Cafe, is an American restaurant chain based in Irving, Texas.
The first Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen location was in Irving, Texas, and by 1995, the chain had reached 10 locations.
First of all, what is a scratch kitchen?
Unlike many restaurants that “heat and serve” a frozen dinner, a scratch kitchen takes the time to make each dish from scratch, so every meal is fresh. At Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, quality ingredients are used and every dish is prepared in their kitchen each day. From savoury soup to smoked ribs, every dish is homemade.
The chefs starting working at 6 a.m. every day, preparing meat and baking pies.
Each Cheddar’s restaurant is staffed by twice the number of cooks working in most restaurant kitchens, and each location features a scratch kitchen that spans over 3,500 square feet.
Cheddar’s is know for its famous Honey-Butter Croissants, Chicken Pot Pie and Fried Chicken Tenders, to name just a few.
By 2003, Cheddar’s had 42 restaurants in 13 states and had generated $150 million in revenue. Brazos Private Equity Partners made an initial investment to grow the company that year.
In August 2006, with 55 restaurants in 15 states, the company generated $245 million in revenue. That year, Oak Investment Partners and L Catterton Partners jointly purchased Cheddar’s.
Kelly Baltes from Darden Restaurants was recruited in 2007 to serve as CEO.
In October 2014, Ian Baines took on the position of President and CEO of Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen. He had previously been CEO and President at Uno Restaurant Holdings Corporation.
In 2015, the company changed its name from Cheddar’s Casual Cafe to Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen.
In 2017, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen expanded when the company acquired forty-four franchised units located in Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia from Greer Companies, their largest franchisee. These new acquisitions increased their portfolio to 164 corporate owned restaurants.
In March 2017, Darden Restaurants acquired Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen for $780 million plus $10 million for transaction-related expenses.
Every week Cheddar’s donates unused food to the local food banks who participate in the Harvest Program.
Gloria Sauvé
Communications and Marketing