Boston — An affiliate of Craveworthy Brands has signed a definitive agreement to acquire New England Authentic Eats LLC (NEAE), the Massachusetts-based parent company of Papa Gino’s Pizzeria. Following closing, Craveworthy plans to introduce its Wing It On! brand to every Papa Gino’s location across the region.
The acquisition will add more than 160 restaurants and approximately $160 million in annual revenue to Craveworthy’s platform, expanding its portfolio to nearly 500 locations and significantly strengthening its New England presence. The transaction is expected to close by Dec. 31, 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
Upon completion of the planned rollout, Wing It On! is expected to grow from 45 restaurants to more than 145 locations. The co-brand strategy pairs Papa Gino’s established restaurants and regional recognition with Wing It On!’s ultimate buffalo wing experience, creating a path to expand the wing brand without developing brand-new traditional locations.
Founded in East Boston in 1961, Papa Gino’s has brought generations of New Englanders together over handmade pizza rooted in an Italian family recipe. The brand will retain its name, menu and distinct identity as Craveworthy invests in its next chapter.
Founded in Connecticut in 2011, Wing It On! is known for its crisp wings, award-winning sauces and house made dips.
With more than $300 million in systemwide sales prior to the transaction, Craveworthy brings the scale of its shared platform and a hands-on approach to operations. Working alongside NEAE’s team, the company will support restaurant and franchise infrastructure through combined purchasing power, integrated technology, advanced training and established systems.
“Papa Gino’s is a New England institution. People grew up on this pizza, and we’re going to honor that,” says Gregg Majewski, CEO and founder of Craveworthy. “We protect what makes a brand special, then put our full platform behind it. With Wing It On!, we can build on that foundation and bring something new to the table.”
Keel Merchant Bank and its affiliate Keel Advisory served as the exclusive financial advisor and Akerman LLP served as legal counsel to Craveworthy.
Harrington Park Advisors served as exclusive financial advisor and Vedder served as legal counsel to NEAE.
The agreement with NEAE advances Craveworthy’s strategy of pairing established brands with the infrastructure to strengthen performance and accelerate growth. The company plans to pursue additional acquisitions of comparable scale every 6 to 9 months, with each transaction expanding its operational capabilities and development opportunities.
Craveworthy Brands is a multi-brand restaurant platform and franchisor with more than 20 concepts and nearly 300 locations in the U.S and internationally. The company builds and scales emerging concepts and legacy brands through a shared infrastructure designed for intentional growth.
New England Authentic Eats LLC, headquartered in Dedham, Mass., is the parent company of Papa Gino’s Pizzeria, a beloved New England restaurant brand.
For more information, visit www.craveworthybrands.com, www.papaginos.com and www.wingiton.com.
SOURCE: Craveworthy Brands