Seattle-based chain hires advisers as it searches for a buyer

  • Mod Pizza hires restructuring advisers for potential bankruptcy filing
  • Seeking financing options including a loan for bankruptcy stay
  • New CEO Beth Scott took over in January
  • Sales increased by 5.7% to $700 million last year

Mod Pizza, known for its build-your-own pizza experience, has hired legal and financial advisers to explore options including a sale or bankruptcy filing. The Seattle-based fast-casual restaurant chain is facing challenges in the current economic climate and is seeking financing options, including a loan that would fund a stay in bankruptcy. With new CEO Beth Scott at the helm since January, Mod Pizza has seen sales increase by 5.7% to $700 million last year. The company operates 540 restaurants and had focused on dine-in customers before the pandemic, but shifted to pickup and delivery due to Covid-19 lockdowns.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides relevant information about Mod Pizza hiring advisers for potential bankruptcy filing or sale of the business, mentions the company’s financial situation and challenges faced by similar chains in recent times. It also includes quotes from a representative of the company and cites market research data. However, it lacks some details on the specific financial issues and could provide more context on the industry-wide impact of Covid-19 on restaurant businesses.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about Mod Pizza’s financial situation and the potential bankruptcy filing, but it lacks in-depth analysis or exploration of long-term trends or possibilities. It also does not offer actionable insights or new knowledge for readers.
Private Companies: Mod Pizza
Key People: Beth Scott (Chief Executive), Scott Svenson (Co-founder), Heather Haddon (Contributor)

Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: Restaurant industry
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses Mod Pizza’s potential bankruptcy filing and its hiring of advisers, which impacts the financial situation of the company and is related to the restaurant industry.
Presence Of Extreme Event: Yes
Nature Of Extreme Event: Financial Crash or Crisis
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Severe
Extreme Rating Justification: Mod Pizza hiring restructuring advisers and considering bankruptcy filing indicates a severe financial crisis for the company, which has struggled due to high interest rates and pandemic-related changes in consumer behavior. The potential bankruptcy would have significant economic impact on the business and its stakeholders.
Move Size: No market move size mentioned.
Sector: All
Direction: Down
Magnitude: Large
Affected Instruments: Stocks, Bonds

Reported publicly: www.wsj.com