An overview of Cheddar’s history from 1848 to the present day

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, originally known as Cheddar’s Casual Cafe, has become a household name in American casual dining. With a reputation for serving delicious, made-from-scratch meals at affordable prices, it is no wonder Cheddar’s has grown into one of the most popular restaurant chains in the United States. In this article, we will explore the history of Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, exploring its growth and expansion.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen was founded in 1979 by Aubrey Good and Doug Rogers in Arlington, Texas. The first restaurant was small in size but quickly grew its following, due to its focus on fresh, scratch-made dishes. Interestingly, the name “Cheddar’s” was suggested by a local school’s 5th-grade class when the founders were looking for ideas for the restaurant’s name.

There were 10 Cheddar’s locations in Texas by 1995. It has become a very popular chain as a result of its commitment to quality and affordability, which has allowed the chain to expand north of the state. This duration is very important in Cheddars history.

By 2003, Cheddar’s operated 42 restaurants across 13 states, generating $150 million in revenue. That same year, Brazos Private Equity Partners invested to accelerate company growth.

In 2006, Cheddar’s revenue grew to $245 million from 55 locations in 15 states. This attracted further investment from Oak Investment Partners and L Catterton Partners. These investments enabled the company to refine its operations and scale further.

In 2014, Ian Baines was appointed President and CEO of Cheddar’s. Under his leadership, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen rebranded itself in 2015 to promote fresh, homemade dishes. As a result of the rebranding, the restaurant’s name has become more aligned with its core value of using high-quality ingredients to prepare scratch-made meals.

In 2017, Darden Restaurants, the parent company of Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, acquired Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen for $780 million. At the time of the purchase , Cheddar’s had 164 corporate-owned locations, adding significant value to Darden’s portfolio. The purchase allowed Cheddar’s to continue its growth while benefiting from Darden’s extensive resources and expertise in the restaurant industry.

• 1979: Cheddar’s is founded in Arlington, Texas.
• 1995: The restaurant reaches 10 locations.
• 2003: Cheddar’s generates $150 million in revenue from 42 restaurants.
• 2006: Oak Investment Partners and L Catterton Partners purchase Cheddar’s.
• 2015: The company rebrands to Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen.
• 2017: Darden Restaurants acquires Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen for $780 million.

Cheddar’s stands apart from other restaurants due to its commitment to homemade food.
Cheddars menu features American comfort food items, including hand-breaded chicken tenders, house-smoked baby back ribs, and homemade onion rings. Each dish is prepared in-house, ensuring fresh, high-quality meals every day.

As one of the most popular full-service restaurant chains in the country, cheddar has developed a loyal customer base due to its commitment to scratch cooking.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen has earned numerous awards over the years, including:

• Zagat’s No. 1 Full-Service Restaurant Chain (2012)
• Consumer Reports’ #1 Pub Style or Grill in both 2009 and 2012
• Technomic Consumer Choice Awards’ No. 1 Full-Service Restaurant (2016)
• Market Force’s Favorite Casual Dining Restaurant (2016)

These accolades highlight Cheddar’s commitment to providing superior value, high-quality food, and an exceptional dining experience.

Since the launching of Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen in 1979, it has come a long way. Due to its commitment to scratch-made meals and affordable prices, this small Arlington, Texas restaurant has grown into a nationwide chain. Today, Cheddar’s serves high-quality, made-from-scratch dishes that delight customers and keep them coming back. Across the country, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen remains a favorite comfort food destination.