Biscuit Belly announced the acquisition of 35 locations from Maple Street Biscuit Company, a subsidiary of Cracker Barrel, in a move the company said will accelerate its expansion across the Southeast and bring Biscuit Belly to more than 60 units by the end of 2028. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Biscuit Belly will convert the Maple Street Biscuit Company locations to the Biscuit Belly brand over the next 18 to 24 months, positioning the brand for its next phase of growth while remaining focused on the hospitality, guest experience, and biscuits that have defined it. The acquisition allows Biscuit Belly to quickly enter new territories and deepen its presence in existing markets by leveraging Maple Street’s established infrastructure and store-level teams, while preserving the culture that has fueled the company’s growth. Since opening its first restaurant in 2019, Biscuit Belly has grown to 15 locations across the Southeast with a strong organic pipeline, and the acquisition will more than triple the company’s footprint. Conversions will begin immediately, starting with locations in the greater Cincinnati area and Richmond, Virginia, with the full conversion timeline extending through the fourth quarter of 2028 across markets in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, and South Carolina.
Throughout the transition, Biscuit Belly intends to retain the welcoming culture and community connections that have made these restaurants local favorites, while introducing its signature menu, colorful and modern interiors, and enhanced guest experience.
KEY QUOTES:
“Acquiring an iconic brand like Maple Street, one of the original gourmet biscuit sandwich concepts, was not on my 2026 bingo card. Two of the biggest headwinds that growing brands encounter are the time required to find and build locations, and the difficulty of finding great teams. When we looked at Maple Street’s geography, footprints, and established teams, a light bulb went off.”
Chad Coulter, Co-Founder and CEO, Biscuit Belly
“When we opened our first Biscuit Belly location, we didn’t have plans for rapid growth. We knew it would be special but did not anticipate the response from our guests. Once we started seeing our growth accelerate, we set a 10-year goal to become the largest biscuit brand in the US. This acquisition is making that goal a reality, and we’re excited to invite all the team members from Maple Street to join us for this next chapter.”
Lauren Coulter, Co-Founder and Chief Biscuit Eater, Biscuit Belly
