The chicken acquisition of 2016: A look at Cara Operations and St-Hubert

VAUGHAN, Ont. – Cara Operations, the owner of Swiss Chalet, is buying Quebec rotisserie chicken chain St-Hubert for $537 million. Here’s a look at both companies:

Cara:

Founded: 1883.

Assets: 1,010 restaurants, 973 of which are in Canada. They include Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s, Milestones, Montana’s, Kelsey’s, East Side Mario’s, New York Fries, Prime Pubs, Bier Markt and Landing restaurants.

Employees: 26,000.

Head office: Vaughan, Ont.

Swiss Chalet Menu: Rotisserie chicken, ribs and french fries, along with an assortment of soups, salads and sandwiches, pasta dishes and simple desserts. Also known for its “signature” dipping sauce.

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St-Hubert:

Founded: 1951.

Assets: 117 restaurants, all but nine of which are in Quebec. Eighty restaurants are full-service locations and the rest are express outlets. Also operates a food manufacturing business, which makes two-thirds of its sales through corporate customers such as Sobeys, Loblaw and Metro.

Employees: 10,000.

Head offices: Laval and Boisbriand, Quebec.

Menu: Fairly similar to Swiss Chalet’s, including rotisserie chicken, ribs and fries served with its own barbecue dipping sauce. Also has its own assortment of soups, salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes. St-Hubert also serves poutine, a long-time Quebec favourite that has since gone mainstream in many areas of the country.