Oak Hill’s purchase of Checkers shows rising PE interest in restaurants

The private equity firm recently exited playground manufacturer Playcore and restaurant chain Checkers.

Restaurants are scrambling to meet new demands from diners who want cuisine they believe is healthy, responsibly-sourced, budget-friendly and often ethnic or regional. All the new requirements are spawning a wide array of restaurant types and a lot of acquisitions along the way.

Oak Hill and Roark are some notable investors in the space.