Fuzzy’s president exits as Fort Worth chain continues to grow

Fuzzy's Oklahoma City

Fort Worth-based fast casual chain Fuzzy’s Taco Shop announced today that its president, Chuck Bush, has elected to leave the company to pursue new interests.

Bush and his son had purchased the two-year-old company in 2003 building it into a fast-growing, fast-casual restaurant chain with locations in 11 states in the years since.

In February, Fuzzy’s sold a 70 percent stake in the company to Atlanta investment fund NRD Capital Management.

“Chuck Bush has been incredibly valuable in moving the brand from its beginnings in 2001 to where it is today,” said Aziz Hashim, NRD Capital founder and managing partner. “Chuck is ready for a new challenge after selling the company and will help with the leadership transition in a consultancy role.”

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Bush said he is confident in NRD Capital’s ability to grow the brand and now is the time to step aside and let a new leadership team lead the brand into the future.

“I am extremely proud of what the team has been able to do with this brand. Since NRD’s acquisition, they have proven their ability to attract high quality multi-unit franchisees, and to bring to Fuzzy’s the resources an emerging brand needs,” Bush said. “I have decided that this is the time for me to exit leadership of the brand and leave it in the capable stewardship of NRD Capital. I believe the team and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop franchisees will greatly benefit from NRD’s franchisee-centric approach.”

Mel Knight, the company’s executive vice president, said, “We could not be more excited to partner with NRD both for the future of our brand’s development and also for our current franchisees who have been instrumental in our success to date.”

In August, the chain, which was founded in 2001 on University Drive near Texas Christian University, announced it opened its 100th location. Fuzzy’s corporate-owned and franchise locations are now serving Baja-style Mexican food across 11 states. 

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Fuzzy’s was one of the first fast-casual concepts to bring fish tacos and white queso to the Dallas-Fort Worth market. The chain was also early on the concept of serving breakfast all day, and is one of the few fast-casual restaurants to offer alcoholic drinks. The company reported revenues of $113 million for 2015 in the Fort Worth Business Press’ Top 100 private companies in Tarrant County list earlier this year. 

http://www.fuzzystacoshop.com/