Federal Donuts & Chicken is regrouping after several of its franchisee locations closed, including one in Radnor Township, writes Samantha Stewart for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Federal’s Founding chefs, Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook, are reacquiring several of the closed shops, which will be run as company stores as they improve food and service.
Federal was opened in 2011 by Solomonov, Cook, and three partners.
Cook and Solomonov took a majority investment from Radnor-based NewSpring Capital in 2022, allowing them to launch an expansion of the brand.
Federal hoped to shift from 11 locations, and arena stands to up to 150 new units through franchising.
The closed stores are in Federal’s first franchise group, which included Mike Sloane and Michael Heller, chief executive and chairman of the Cozen O’Connor law firm.
Sloane, also speaking for Heller, did not discuss the reasons for the shop closures or the group’s relationship with Federal’s founders or with NewSpring.
“These situations can be complicated, and not every partnership evolves the way people initially expect,” Sloane said.
Cook said that NewSpring remains committed to the Federal brand and that franchising is still a part of Federal’s plan.
Read more about Federal Donuts & Chicken and the nature of franchising in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
