Form 10-Q - Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q


☒			QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024


☐			TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number: 001-33174

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)



Delaware		83-3804854
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

968 James Street
Syracuse,	New York	13203
(Address of principal executive office)		(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (315) 424-0513

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

TAST

The NASDAQ Global Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer", "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

☐

Accelerated filer

☒

Non-accelerated filer

☐

Smaller reporting company

☒

Emerging growth company

☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of May 3, 2024, Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. had 52,621,276 shares of its common stock, $.01 par value, outstanding.

Table of Contents

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

FORM 10-Q

QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2024


		Page
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1	Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited):

	Consolidated Balance Sheets	3

	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)	4

	Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity	5

	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	6

	Notes to Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	7

Item 2	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	25

Item 3	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	42

Item 4	Controls and Procedures	42

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1	Legal Proceedings	43

Item 1A	Risk Factors	43

Item 2	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	44

Item 3	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	44

Item 4	Mine Safety Disclosures	44

Item 5	Other Information	44

Item 6	Exhibits	45

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1—INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)


	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	38,030	$	44,504
Trade and other receivables	25,033		22,438
Inventories	13,189		15,237

Prepaid expenses and other current assets	15,174		17,521


Total current assets	91,426		99,700

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $578,488 and $570,062, respectively	308,959		307,526
Franchise rights, net of accumulated amortization of $178,228 and $174,745, respectively (Note 3)	295,142		298,626
Goodwill (Note 3)	107,751		107,751
Franchise agreements, at cost less accumulated amortization of $19,975 and $19,299, respectively	25,414		26,048

Operating right-of-use assets, net (Note 6)	734,510		743,250


Other assets (Note 7)	9,160		9,591
Total assets	$	1,572,362	$	1,592,492
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease liabilities (Notes 6 and 7)	$	7,108	$	7,159
Current portion of operating lease liabilities (Note 6)	49,631		49,424
Accounts payable	37,713		37,797
Accrued interest	4,323		8,705

Accrued payroll, related taxes and benefits	36,984		63,787
Accrued real estate taxes	7,188		8,963
Other liabilities (Note 5)	49,426		29,120
Total current liabilities	192,373		204,955
Long-term debt and finance lease liabilities, net of current portion (Notes 6 and 7)	420,346		421,788

Operating lease liabilities (Note 6)	750,183		758,115

Deferred income taxes, net (Note 8)	10,823		11,090


Other liabilities (Note 5)	10,597		11,311
Total liabilities	1,384,322		1,407,259
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
Stockholders' equity (Note 12):
Preferred stock, par value $.01; authorized 20,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding—100 shares	—		—
Voting common stock, par value $.01; authorized—100,000,000 shares, issued—57,402,169 and 56,738,837 shares, respectively, and outstanding—52,479,387 and 51,602,340 shares, respectively	549		539
Additional paid-in capital	297,663		296,972
Accumulated deficit	(99,508)		(103,172)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	5,189		5,320
Treasury stock, at cost	(15,853)		(14,426)
Total stockholders' equity	188,040		185,233
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	1,572,362	$	1,592,492

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Restaurant sales	$	452,192	$	445,162
Operating expenses:
Food, beverage and packaging costs	118,166		125,443
Restaurant wages and related expenses	150,785		146,324
Restaurant rent expense (Note 6)	32,025		31,834
Other restaurant operating expenses	74,037		69,132
Advertising expense	18,459		17,898
General and administrative expenses (including stock-based compensation of $1,989 and $1,097, respectively)	30,826		25,740
Depreciation and amortization	18,512		18,718
Impairment and other lease charges (Note 4)	1,356		1,340
Other income, net (Note 14)	(2,041)		(1,506)
Total operating expenses	442,125		434,923
Income from operations	10,067		10,239

Interest expense	6,413		8,233
Income before income taxes	3,654		2,006
Provision (benefit) for income taxes (Note 8)	(10)		1,142
Net income	$	3,664	$	864
Basic and diluted net income per share (Note 13)	$	0.06	$	0.01
Shares used in computing net income per share:
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	52,325,476		51,422,010
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	64,221,877		61,420,034
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net income	$	3,664	$	864
Change in valuation of interest rate swap (Note 7)	(131)		(1,137)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	3,533	$	(273)

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)


											Accumulated
							Additional				Other					Total
	Common Stock			Preferred Stock			Paid-In		Accumulated		Comprehensive		Treasury Stock			Stockholders'
	Shares	Amount		Shares	Amount		Capital		Deficit		Income		Shares	Amount		Equity
Balance, December 31, 2023	53,854,077	$	539	100	$	—	$	296,972	$	(103,172)	$	5,320	2,251,737	$	(14,426)	$	185,233
Stock-based compensation	—	—		—	—		1,989		—		—		—	—		1,989
Vesting of non-vested shares and RSUs	1,045,739	10		—	—		(10)		—		—		—	—		—
Net income	—	—		—	—		—		3,664		—		—	—		3,664
Purchase of treasury stock	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		168,692	(1,427)		(1,427)
Cash dividend	—	—		—	—		(1,288)		—		—		—	—		(1,288)
Change in valuation of interest rate swap, net of income tax benefit of $45 (Note 8)	—	—		—	—		—		—		(131)		—	—		(131)
Balance, March 31, 2024	54,899,816	$	549	100	$	—	$	297,663	$	(99,508)	$	5,189	2,420,429	$	(15,853)	$	188,040















Balance, January 1, 2023	53,010,414	$	530	100	$	—	$	292,708	$	(136,968)	$	8,702	2,107,303	$	(14,130)	$	150,842
Stock-based compensation	—	—		—	—		1,097		—		—		—	—		1,097
Vesting of non-vested shares and RSUs	767,359	8		—	—		(8)		—		—		—	—		—
Net income	—	—		—	—		—		864		—		—	—		864
Purchase of treasury stock	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		144,434	(295)		(295)
Change in valuation of interest rate swap, net of income tax benefit of $260 (Note 8)	—	—		—	—		—		—		(1,137)		—	—		(1,137)
Balance, April 2, 2023	53,777,773	$	538	100	$	—	$	293,797	$	(136,104)	$	7,565	2,251,737	$	(14,425)	$	151,371

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Cash flows provided by operating activities:
Net income	$	3,664	$	864
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on disposals of property and equipment, including sale-leasebacks transactions	(1,429)		(1,521)
Stock-based compensation	1,989		1,097
Impairment and other lease charges	1,356		1,340
Depreciation and amortization	18,512		18,718
Amortization of deferred financing costs	512		543
Amortization of discount on debt	27		32
Deferred income taxes	(223)		1,142


Changes in other operating assets and liabilities	(12,071)		(14,222)
Net cash provided by operating activities	12,337		7,993
Cash flows used for investing activities:
Capital expenditures:
New restaurant development	(2,582)		(858)
Restaurant remodeling	(6,461)		(2,035)
Other restaurant capital expenditures	(4,289)		(3,774)
Corporate and restaurant information systems	(3,058)		(1,322)
Total capital expenditures	(16,390)		(7,989)

Proceeds from sale of other assets	1,851		—
Properties purchased for sale-leaseback	(2,573)		—

Proceeds from insurance recoveries	1,726		1,126
Net cash used for investing activities	(15,386)		(6,863)
Cash flows used in financing activities:

Principal payments on Term B Loans	(1,063)		(1,063)

Borrowings under revolving credit facility	—		11,000
Repayments under revolving credit facility	—		(23,500)
Principal payments on finance lease liabilities	(935)		(755)

Purchase of treasury shares	(1,427)		(295)
Net cash used in financing activities	(3,425)		(14,613)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(6,474)		(13,483)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	44,504		18,364
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	38,030	$	4,881
Supplemental disclosures:
Interest paid on long-term debt	$	10,184	$	12,137
Interest paid on lease financing obligations	—		—
Interest paid on finance leases	156		208
Accruals for capital expenditures	1,787		1,945
Finance lease obligations incurred	83		20
Gain on sale-leaseback transactions	—		822
Operating lease assets and liabilities resulting from lease modifications and new leases	4,628		10,819
Operating cash flows related to operating leases	25,983		25,739

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

1. Business Description

At March 31, 2024, Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. ("Carrols Restaurant Group") operated, as franchisee, 1,023 Burger King® restaurants in 23 Northeastern, Midwestern, Southcentral and Southeastern states and 59 Popeyes® restaurants in six Southeastern states. Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. is a holding company and conducts all of its operations through its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries Carrols Corporation and New CFH, LLC and their wholly-owned subsidiaries. Carrols Corporation's material direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries include its wholly-owned subsidiary Carrols LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. New CFH LLC's material direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries include Frayser Quality, LLC and Nashville Quality, LLC (and together with New CFH, LLC's immaterial direct and indirect subsidiaries, collectively, "New CFH"). Unless the context otherwise requires, Carrols Restaurant Group and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the "Company."

Merger Agreement

On January 16, 2024, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Restaurant Brands International Inc. ("RBI") and BK Cheshire Corp., a Delaware corporation and subsidiary of RBI (“Merger Sub”, and together with RBI, the “Buyer Parties”), providing for the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation (the “Merger”).

A special transaction committee (the “Special Committee”) of independent and disinterested members of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) unanimously recommended that the Board approve and adopt the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and recommend that the stockholders of the Company adopt the Merger Agreement. Thereafter, the Board approved and adopted the Merger Agreement and resolved to recommend that the stockholders of the Company adopt the Merger Agreement. Subject to the terms and conditions and certain exceptions set forth in the Merger Agreement, each share of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”) will, at the Effective Time, automatically be converted into the right to receive $9.55 in cash, without interest, subject to any required tax withholding.

If the Merger is consummated, the Company's common stock will be delisted from The NASDAQ Global Market and deregistered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as promptly as practicable following the Effective Time. The Merger is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024 subject to the conditions set forth below.

Consummation of the Merger is subject to certain conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including, but not limited to, the: (A) affirmative vote of the holders of (i) a majority of all of the outstanding shares of Company capital stock to adopt the Merger Agreement and (ii) a majority of all of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock held by the Unaffiliated Company Stockholders (as defined in the Merger Agreement) to adopt the Merger Agreement; (B) expiration or termination of any waiting periods (and any extensions thereof) applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended; (C) absence of any law or order in the United States restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger; and (D) absence of a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement).

The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for the Company, on the one hand, and the Buyer Parties, on the other hand. Upon termination of the Merger Agreement under specified circumstances, the Company will be required to pay RBI a termination fee of $19.0 million. In addition to the foregoing termination rights, and subject to certain limitations, the Company or RBI may terminate the Merger Agreement if the Merger is not consummated by November 30, 2024.

On April 12, 2024, notice was given that a special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) of Carrols Restaurant Group will be held on May 14, 2024, to consider and vote on a proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and a proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation that will or may become payable by Carrols Restaurant Group to its named executive officers in connection with the Merger.

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Consolidation. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Fiscal Year. The Company uses a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the Sunday closest to December 31. The three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 each contained thirteen weeks. The 2024 fiscal year will end December 29, 2024 and will contain 52 weeks.

Basis of Presentation. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 have been prepared without an audit pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not include certain of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of such unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been included. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The December 31, 2023 consolidated balance sheet data is derived from those audited consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant items subject to such estimates include accrued occupancy costs, insurance liabilities, lease accounting matters, the valuation of acquired assets and liabilities, interest rate swap valuation, the valuation of deferred income tax assets and liabilities, and the evaluation for impairment of goodwill, long-lived assets and franchise rights. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Segment Information. Operating segments are components of an entity for which discrete financial information is available and is regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in order to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company's chief operating decision-maker, our President and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), currently evaluates the Company's operations from a number of different operational perspectives; however, resource allocation decisions are determined based on the chief operating decision-maker's evaluation of the total Company operations. The Company derives all significant revenues from a single operating segment, its restaurant business. Accordingly, the Company views the operating results of its restaurants as one reportable segment.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company had $26.3 million of cash invested in money market funds classified as cash equivalents on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2024. At December 31, 2023, the Company had $5.5 million of cash invested in money market funds classified as cash equivalents on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Food, Beverage and Packaging Costs. The Company includes food, beverage and packaging costs and delivery charges, net of any vendor purchase discounts and rebates, in food, beverage, and packaging costs.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. In determining fair value, the accounting standards establish a three-level hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

value as follows: Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2 inputs are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; and Level 3 inputs are unobservable and reflect the Company's own assumptions. Financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, accounts payable and long-term debt. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these financial instruments. Borrowings under the Company's Senior Credit Facilities (including its term B loans) accrue interest at a floating rate tied to a standard short-term borrowing index selected at the Company's option, plus an applicable margin. The Company's liability for its Senior Credit Facilities and 5.875% Senior Notes due 2029 are carried at historical cost in the accompanying balance sheets. The fair value of our term B loans and 5.875% Senior Notes due 2029 is based on recent trading activity, which are Level 2 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. As of March 31, 2024, the term B loans traded at 100.0% of par value and the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2029 traded at 101.3% of par value.

The Company recognizes its derivative arrangements on the balance sheet at fair value, which is considered a Level 2 input. The Company's only derivative is an interest rate swap (the "Swap") which is designated as a cash flow hedge. Accordingly, the entire change in the fair value of the cash flow hedges included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. Any ineffective portion of the changes in the fair value of this arrangement is immediately recognized in earnings as interest expense, as applicable. The Company classifies cash inflows and outflows from derivatives within operating activities on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The Swap had an asset value of $4.9 million and $5.1 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, and is classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Fair value measurements of non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities are primarily used in the impairment analysis of long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets. Long-lived assets and definite-lived intangible assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis using Level 3 inputs. As described in Note 4, the Company recorded long-lived asset impairment charges of $1.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and $0.1 million during the three months ended April 2, 2023.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Other Lease Charges. The Company reviews its long-lived assets, principally property and equipment, for impairment at the restaurant level. If an indicator of impairment exists for any of its assets, an estimate of the undiscounted future cash flows over the life of the primary asset for each restaurant is compared to that long-lived asset's carrying value. If the carrying value is greater than the undiscounted cash flow, the Company then determines the fair value of the asset and if an asset is determined to be impaired, the loss is measured by the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its fair value. For closed restaurant locations, the Company reviews the future minimum lease payments and related ancillary costs from the date of the restaurant closure to the end of the remaining lease term and records a lease charge for any right-of-use ("ROU") lease asset impairment or lease-related costs during the remaining term, net of any estimated sublease recoveries.

The Company determined the fair value of restaurant equipment, for those restaurants reviewed for impairment, based on current economic conditions. The Company determines the fair value of ROU lease assets based on an assessment of market rents and a discounted future cash flow model. The Company re-evaluates the ROU lease asset at the time the restaurant is no longer determined to be usable to the Company, which is generally when the restaurant is closed. These fair value asset measurements rely on significant unobservable inputs and are considered Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The amendments in this update require disclosure of incremental segment information and the title and position of the chief operating decision maker ("CODM"). The Company will be required to disclose significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the CODM, as well as additional information on segment profit and loss measures and how such information is used by the CODM to assess segment performance and allocate resources. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

interim periods for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, on a retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The amendments in this update require enhanced income tax disclosures, particularly related to a reporting entity's effective tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. For the rate reconciliation table, the update requires additional categories of information about federal, state, and foreign taxes and details about significant reconciling items, subject to a quantitative threshold. Income taxes paid must be similarly disaggregated by federal, state, and foreign based on a quantitative threshold. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The guidance shall be applied on a prospective basis with the option to apply retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its disclosures.

Subsequent Events. The Company reviewed and evaluated subsequent events through the issuance date of the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

3. Intangible Assets

Franchise Rights. Amounts allocated to franchise rights for each acquisition of Burger King and Popeyes restaurants are amortized using the straight-line method over the average remaining term of the acquired franchise agreements plus one twenty-year renewal period.

The Company assesses the potential impairment of franchise rights whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable, including as a result of closures of restaurants that were part of an acquisition, a shortfall in undiscounted operating cash flows over the projected remaining life of the franchise rights to the carrying value of such franchise rights for each acquisition group, or other indicators of impairment. If an indicator of impairment exists, an estimate of the aggregate undiscounted cash flows from the acquired restaurants is compared to the respective carrying value of franchise rights for each acquisition. If an asset is determined to be impaired, the loss is measured by the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its fair value. No impairment charges were recorded related to the Company's franchise rights for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023.

The change in franchise rights for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was from amortization expense during the period. Amortization expense related to franchise rights was $3.5 million for both of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023. The Company expects amortization expense to be $13.9 million annually for fiscal 2024 through fiscal 2029.

Goodwill. The Company is required to review goodwill for impairment annually, or more frequently when events and circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may be impaired. If the determined fair value of the reporting unit is less than the related carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized. The Company performs its annual impairment assessment as of the end of the eighth month of its fiscal year. As part of this goodwill impairment assessment, the Company considers certain qualitative factors, such as the Company's performance, business forecasts and expansion plans, a discount rate approximating the Company's weighted average cost of capital, general economic conditions, and evaluation of peer company multiples, among other factors including external indicators of value. Given the nature of the qualitative and quantitative factors considered, there is a degree of uncertainty associated with these judgments and estimates. Notably, the business forecasts and market conditions considered within the Company's annual goodwill impairment test reflect the Company's long-standing history of operating Burger King restaurants in various business cycles.

The Company assessed events and circumstances from the date of its annual goodwill impairment test through March 31, 2024 and there was no indicator representing a triggering event, nor was any goodwill-related impairment recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023.

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

4. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Other Lease Charges

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company recorded impairment and other lease charges of $1.4 million consisting of $0.7 million related to initial impairment charges for four underperforming restaurants, capital expenditures at previously impaired restaurants of $0.3 million and $0.4 million of other lease charges primarily related to one planned restaurant closure.

During the three months ended April 2, 2023, the Company recorded impairment and other lease charges of $1.3 million consisting of capital expenditures at previously impaired restaurants of $0.1 million and $1.2 million of other lease charges related to three restaurant closed during the first quarter.

5. Other Liabilities

Other liabilities, current, at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 consisted of the following:


	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Accrued unearned income	$	12,477	$	511
Accrued workers' compensation and general liability claims	6,569		4,855
Accrued professional fees	5,546		654
Sales tax payable	7,405		7,333
Other	17,429		15,767
	$	49,426	$	29,120

Other liabilities, long-term, at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 consisted of the following:


	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Accrued occupancy costs	$	1,703	$	1,766
Accrued workers' compensation and general liability claims	3,732		3,994

Deferred compensation	2,970		3,162

Accrued post retirement benefits	1,236		1,249
Other	956		1,140
	$	10,597	$	11,311

6. Leases

The Company utilizes land and buildings in its operations under various lease agreements. The Company does not consider any one of these individual leases material to the Company's operations. Initial lease terms are generally for twenty years and provide for renewal options with rent escalations. The exercise of such renewal options is generally at the Company's sole discretion. The Company evaluates renewal options at lease commencement and upon any lease amendments or remodeling activity to determine if such options are reasonably certain to be exercised based on economic factors. Certain leases also require variable rent, determined as a percentage of sales as defined by the terms of the applicable lease agreement. For most locations, the Company is obligated for occupancy-related costs including payment of property taxes, insurance and utilities.

Right-of-use lease assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company's obligation to make payments in exchange for that right of use. As the rate implicit within our leases is not readily determinable, the Company uses market and term-specific incremental borrowing rates which consider the rate of interest it expects to pay on a collateralized basis to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments under similar terms. ROU assets are also reduced by lease incentives, increased by initial direct costs and adjusted by favorable lease assets and unfavorable lease liabilities.

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Variable lease components represent amounts that are contractually fixed as a percentage of sales and are recognized in expense as incurred. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and are recognized as lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company does not account for lease components (e.g., fixed payments including rent) separately from non-lease components (e.g. common area maintenance).

The Company also utilizes certain restaurant equipment under various finance lease agreements with initial terms of generally three to eight years. The Company does not consider any one of these individual leases material to the Company's operations.

For certain leases where rent escalates based upon a change in a financial index, such as the Consumer Price Index, the difference between the index at lease inception and the subsequent fluctuations in that index are included in variable lease costs. Additionally, because the Company has elected to not separate lease and non-lease components, in limited instances variable costs also include payments to the landlord for common area maintenance, real estate taxes, insurance and other operating expenses. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, with variable lease payments recognized in the period those costs are incurred.

Lease Cost

The components and classification of lease expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 are as follows:


		Three Months Ended
Lease cost	Classification	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Operating lease cost(1)	Restaurant rent expense	$	28,547	$	26,363
Operating lease cost(2)	General and administrative	350		305
Variable lease cost	Restaurant rent expense	3,478		5,471

Finance lease cost:
Amortization of right-of-use assets	Depreciation and amortization	801		825
Interest on lease liabilities	Interest expense	156		208
Total lease cost		$	33,332	$	33,172

(1)Includes short-term leases which are not material.

(2)Represents operating lease costs for property and equipment not directly related to restaurant operations.

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

7. Long-term Debt

Long-term debt at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 consisted of the following:


	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023

Senior Credit Facility:
Term B Loans	$	132,313	$	133,375
Revolving credit borrowings	—		—
Senior Notes Due 2029	290,093		290,093
Finance lease liabilities	9,054		9,752
Total Funded debt	431,460		433,220
Less: current portion of long-term debt and finance lease liabilities	(7,108)		(7,159)
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs	(3,770)		(4,010)
Less: unamortized original issue discount	(236)		(263)
Total Long-term debt	$	420,346	$	421,788

Senior Credit Facilities. On April 30, 2019, the Company entered into senior secured credit facilities in an aggregate principal amount of $550.0 million, consisting of (i) a Term Loan B Facility in an aggregate principal amount of $425.0 million (the "Term Loan B Facility") maturing on April 30, 2026 and (ii) a revolving credit facility (including a sub-facility of $35.0 million for standby letters of credit) in an aggregate principal amount of $125.0 million maturing on April 30, 2024 (the "Revolving Credit Facility" and, together with the Term Loan B Facility, the "Senior Credit Facilities"). As of March 31, 2024, the Senior Credit Facilities, as amended, provide for an aggregate maximum commitment available for borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility of $215.0 million. The Revolving Credit Facility matures on January 29, 2026.

The Company's obligations under the Senior Credit Facilities are guaranteed by its subsidiaries and are secured by first priority liens on substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, including a pledge of all of the capital stock and equity interests of its subsidiaries.

Under the Senior Credit Facilities, the Company is required to make mandatory prepayments of borrowings in the event of dispositions of assets, debt issuances and insurance and condemnation proceeds (all subject to certain exceptions).

The Senior Credit Facilities contain certain covenants, including, without limitation, those limiting the Company's and its subsidiaries' ability to, among other things, incur indebtedness, incur liens, sell or acquire assets or businesses, change the character of its business in all material respects, engage in transactions with related parties, make certain investments, make certain restricted payments or pay dividends.

In addition, the Senior Credit Facilities require the Company to meet a First Lien Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) under certain circumstances. The Company is only required to maintain a First Lien Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) of not greater than 5.75 to 1.00 (as measured on a most recent four quarter basis) if, and only if, on the last day of any fiscal quarter, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding revolving credit borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and the aggregate face amount of letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility (excluding undrawn letters of credit in an aggregate face amount up to $12.0 million) exceed 35% of the aggregate borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility.

The Senior Credit Facilities contain customary default provisions, including that the lenders may terminate their obligation to advance and may declare the unpaid balance of borrowings, or any part thereof, immediately due and payable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of customary events of default which include, without limitation, payment default, covenant default, bankruptcy default, cross-default on other indebtedness, judgment default and the occurrence of a change of control.

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

As of March 31, 2024, there were no revolving credit borrowings outstanding and $11.0 million of letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility. After reserving for issued letters of credit and outstanding revolving credit borrowings, $204.0 million was available for revolving credit borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities at March 31, 2024.

The Term Loan B Facility requires quarterly installment payments, which began on September 30, 2019. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company made a voluntary prepayment of $30.0 million on the outstanding principal amount of its Term Loan B borrowings under its Senior Credit Facilities. Amounts outstanding at March 31, 2024 are due and payable as follows:

(i) eight remaining quarterly installments of $1.1 million;

(ii) one final payment of $123.5 million on April 30, 2026.

At March 31, 2024, borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan B Facility each bore interest at a rate per annum equal to (a) the Alternate Base Rate (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) plus 2.25% or (b) Adjusted Term SOFR (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) plus 3.25% (subject to the interest rate swap as described below).

Senior Notes due 2029. On June 28, 2021, the Company issued $300.0 million principal amount of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2029 (the "Notes") in a private placement.

Carrols Restaurant Group and certain of its subsidiaries (the "Guarantors") entered into the Indenture (the "Indenture") dated as of June 28, 2021 with the Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company governing the Notes. The Indenture provides that the Notes will mature on July 1, 2029 and will bear interest at the rate of 5.875% per annum, payable semi-annually on July 1 and January 1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 2022. The entire principal amount of the Notes will be due and payable in full on the maturity date. The Indenture further provides that the Company (i) may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time after July 1, 2024 at the redemption prices described therein, (ii) may redeem up to 40% of the Notes using the proceeds of certain equity offerings completed before July 1, 2024 and (iii) must offer to purchase the Notes if it sells certain of its assets or if specific kinds of changes in control occur, all as set forth in the Indenture. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Carrols Restaurant Group and are guaranteed on an unsecured basis by the Guarantors. The Indenture contains certain covenants that limit the ability of Carrols Restaurant Group and the Guarantors to, among other things: incur indebtedness or issue preferred stock; incur liens; pay dividends or make distributions in respect of capital stock or make certain other restricted payments or investments; sell assets; agree to payment restrictions affecting Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture); enter into transactions with affiliates; or merge, consolidate or sell substantially all of the assets. Such restrictions are subject to certain exceptions and qualifications all as set forth in the Indenture. The Company was in compliance with all such covenants as of March 31, 2024.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company repurchased $9.9 million of its outstanding Notes in the open market.

Interest Rate Swap. In March 2020, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement with certain of its lenders under the Senior Credit Facilities to mitigate the risk of increases in the variable interest rate related to term loan borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities. The agreement matures on February 28, 2025. The interest rate swap originally fixed the interest rate on 50% of outstanding borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility at 0.915% plus the applicable margin in its Senior Credit Facilities with the differences settled monthly. The original notional amount of $220.0 million was reduced to a notional amount of $120.0 million in 2021 and the fixed rate of interest was changed from 0.915% plus the applicable margin to 0.854% plus the applicable margin in 2022 in connection with the transition from LIBOR to SOFR as the benchmark rate on the Company's Senior Credit Facilities.

The Company received $1.4 million and $1.1 million to settle the interest rate swap during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023, respectively.

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The fair value of the Company's interest rate swap agreement was an asset of $4.9 million as of March 31, 2024, which is included in other assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the valuation of the Company's interest rate swap are included as a component of other comprehensive income and will be reclassified to earnings as the income or losses are realized.

The weighted average interest rate for borrowings on long-term debt balances was 5.5% for three months ended March 31, 2024, and 5.8% for the three months ended April 2, 2023.

8. Income Taxes

The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 was comprised of the following:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Current	$	213	$	—
Deferred	(98)		2,473
Change in valuation allowance	(125)		(1,331)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	$	(10)	$	1,142

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amount used for income tax purposes.

The benefit for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was derived using an estimated effective annual income tax rate for all of 2024 of 17.9%, which is inclusive of the estimated change in the Company's valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets and excludes other discrete tax adjustments. The difference compared to the statutory rate for 2024 is attributed to various nondeductible tax expenses and non-refundable business credits which are not directly related to the amount of pre-tax income recorded in the period as well as the change in valuation allowance. Accordingly, in periods where recorded pre-tax income (loss) is relatively small, the proportional effect of these items on the effective rate may be significant. The income tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2024 included $0.7 million of tax benefit from net discrete tax adjustments.

The provision for income taxes for the three months ended April 2, 2023 was derived using an estimated effective annual income tax rate for all of 2023 of 18.7%, which is inclusive of the estimated change in the Company's valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets and excludes other discrete tax adjustments. The difference compared to the statutory rate for 2023 is attributed to various nondeductible tax expenses and non-refundable business credits which are not directly related to the amount of pre-tax income recorded in the period as well as the change in valuation allowance. The income tax provision for the three months ended April 2, 2023 included $0.8 million of tax expense from net discrete tax adjustments.

The Company's federal net operating loss carryforwards can be carried forward indefinitely but are subject to a limit of 80% of taxable income each year. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $61.4 million, general business credits ("GBC") carryforwards of $47.3 million and approximately $133.2 million in state net operating loss carryforwards. The Company's GBC carryforwards begin to expire in 2032 and state net operating loss carryforwards begin to expire in 2024.

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The Company performs an assessment of positive and negative evidence regarding the realization of its deferred income tax assets as required by ASC 740. Under ASC 740, the weight given to negative and positive evidence is commensurate only to the extent that such evidence can be objectively verified. ASC 740 prescribes that objective historical evidence, in particular the Company's three-year cumulative loss position at March 31, 2024, be given greater weight than subjective evidence, including the Company's forecast of future taxable income, which include assumptions that cannot be objectively verified. In determining the likelihood of future realization of the deferred income tax assets as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 the Company considered both positive and negative evidence and weighted the effect of such evidence based upon its objectivity. At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company determined that a valuation allowance was needed for certain federal income tax credits and state operating loss carryforwards in the amount of $42.6 million and $42.7 million, respectively, as they may expire prior to their utilization by the Company. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be adjusted if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced or increased or if objective negative evidence in the form of cumulative losses is no longer present and additional weight may be given to subjective evidence such as projections for growth. The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $0.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2024 relative to this valuation allowance as pre-tax income in the period resulted in higher NOL utilization.

The Company's policy is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits and no accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions. The tax years 2020 - 2023 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject. Although it is not reasonably possible to estimate the amount by which unrecognized tax benefits may increase within the next twelve months due to the uncertainties regarding the timing of examinations, the Company does not expect unrecognized tax benefits to significantly change in the next twelve months.

9. Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 was $2.0 million and $1.1 million, respectively.

As of March 31, 2024, the total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense relating to time-vested restricted shares and stock options was approximately $10.3 million and the Company expects to record an additional $6.1 million in stock-based compensation expense related to the vesting of these awards in the remainder of 2024. The remaining weighted average vesting period for time-based non-vested shares was 1.9 years and performance-based restricted stock units was 2.1 years.

Time-based Non-vested Shares. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company granted 570,390 non-vested shares of common stock to certain employees and officers of the Company and 75,419 non-vested shares of common stock to the outside directors of the Company. These shares generally vest in equal installments over their three-year service period, provided the participant has continuously remained an employee, officer or director of the Company, with provisions that require accelerated vesting upon a change of control.

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

A summary of all non-vested common share activity for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was as follows:


	Shares	Weighted Average Grant Date Price(1)
Non-vested at December 31, 2023	2,734,760	$	2.84
Granted	645,809	$	8.42
Vested	(1,028,216)	$	3.07
Forfeited	—	$	—
Non-vested at March 31, 2024	2,352,353	$	4.27

(1) The fair value of time-vested shares is based on the closing price on the date of grant.

Performance-based Restricted Shares. On April 1, 2022, the Company issued 600,000 performance-based restricted shares to a former CEO, of which 150,000 shares remain unvested as of March 31, 2024. These shares will fully vest on the third anniversary of the grant date based on the achievement of contractually defined EBITDA and share price growth targets, and include a provision that requires accelerated vesting upon a change of control. The fair value of the market-based restricted shares was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation valuation model and these shares will be expensed over their three year performance-based vesting period based on the probability of the Company's attainment of the contractually defined targets.

Performance-based Restricted Stock Units. On July 1, 2023, the Company granted 797,915 performance-based restricted stock units to its executive officers. The number of performance-based restricted stock units that will ultimately vest and be received by the participants is based on achievement of contractually defined EBITDA growth targets to be measured over the period ending fiscal 2025, and are subject to accelerated vesting upon a change of control. The Company estimated the fair-value of performance-based restricted stock units based on the closing stock price on the date of the grant which was $5.04. As the maximum EBITDA growth targets were met with the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA performance in fiscal 2023, expense is being recognized over the applicable service period at the maximum attainment level.

On January 15, 2024, the Company granted 243,900 performance-based restricted stock units to its executive officers. The number of performance-based restricted stock units that will ultimately vest and be received by the participants is based on achievement of contractually defined EBITDA growth targets to be measured over the period ending fiscal 2026, and are subject to accelerated vesting upon a change of control. The Company estimates the fair-value of performance-based restricted stock units based on the closing stock price on the date of the grant which was $8.42. The Company assesses the probability of target attainment on a quarterly basis and records the expense over the vesting period. As of March 31, 2024, the Company’s probability assessment was at the target attainment level.

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Stock Options. The Company has issued options to purchase shares of its common stock to certain employees and officers of the Company. These options are fully vested and were expensed over their three-year vesting period. The options expire seven years from the date of the grant and were issued with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the stock price, or $7.12 per share, on the date of the grant.

The following is a summary of all stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2024:


	Options	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value(1)
Options outstanding at December 31, 2023	925,000	$	7.12


Forfeited	—
Options Outstanding at March 31, 2024	925,000	$	7.12	3.4	$	2,211
Vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2024	925,000	$	7.12	3.4	$	2,211
Options exercisable at March 31, 2024	925,000	$	7.12	3.4	$	2,211

(1)The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated using the difference between the market price of the Company's common stock at March 31, 2024 of $9.51 and the grant price for only those awards that have a grant price that is less than the market price of the Company's common stock at March 31, 2024.

Restricted Stock Units. The Company has issued restricted stock units ("RSUs") on shares of the Company's common shares to certain officers of the Company.

The following is a summary of all RSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2024:


			Units
Non-vested at December 31, 2023			17,523

Vested			(17,523)

Non-vested at March 31, 2024			—

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

10. Commitments and Contingencies

Lease Guarantees. Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. ("Fiesta"), a former wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was spun-off in 2012 to the Company's stockholders. As of March 31, 2024, the Company is a guarantor under 17 leases from the time when Fiesta was its subsidiary, which have lease terms expiring on various dates through 2030. As of March 31, 2024, the guarantees include eight Fiesta restaurant property leases and nine Taco Cabana leases of which all but one Fiesta-owned restaurant is still operating. Eight of these guarantees are for leases with Pollo Operations, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fiesta, and nine of the guarantees are for leases with Texas Taco Cabana, L.P., an indirect subsidiary of Taco Cabana, Inc. (together with all direct and indirect subsidiaries, "Taco"). Taco was a wholly owned subsidiary of Fiesta until August 16, 2021 when Fiesta sold all of its outstanding capital stock of Taco Cabana, Inc. to YTC Enterprises, LLC, an affiliate of Yadav Enterprises, Inc. The Company is fully liable for all obligations under the terms of the leases in the event that a tenant fails to pay any sums due under the lease, subject to indemnification provisions of the Separation and Distribution Agreement entered into in connection with the spin-off of Fiesta. In October of 2023, Fiesta was acquired by affiliates of Garnett Station Partners ("GSP"). Matthew Perelman and Alexander Sloane, each a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, are affiliates of GSP and affiliates of Cambridge Franchise Holdings, LLC which owns approximately 16.2% of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock.

The maximum potential amount of future undiscounted rental payments the Company could be required to make under these leases at March 31, 2024 was $7.6 million, of which $4.8 million pertains to Fiesta restaurant property leases and $2.8 million pertains to Taco restaurant property leases. The obligations under these leases will generally continue to decrease over time as these operating leases expire, except for any execution of renewal options that exist under the original leases. No payments related to these guarantees have been made by the Company to date and none are expected to be required to be made in the future. The Company has not recorded a liability for these guarantees in accordance with ASC 460 - Guarantees as Fiesta has indemnified the Company for all such obligations and the Company did not believe it was probable it would be required to perform under any of the guarantees or direct obligations.

Litigation. The Company is party to various litigation matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company does not believe that the outcome of any of these matters will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial statements.

As of the date of this Current Report on Form 10-Q, four lawsuits have been filed in federal and state court by purported stockholders against the Company and members of the Board (collectively, the “Actions”) relating to the Merger. The Actions, in the order by which they were filed, are: (i) Andrew Sasser v. Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc., et al., No. 1:24-cv-01869 (S.D.N.Y.), filed on March 12, 2024, (ii) Robert Lacoff v. Thomas Curtis et al., No. 60999/2024 (N.Y.S.), filed on April 23, 2024, (iii) Kevin Walsh v. Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. et al., No. 004258/2024 (N.Y.S.), filed on April 23, 2024 and (iv) Mary Philips v. Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. et al., No. 004336/2024 (N.Y.S.), filed on April 24, 2024. The Sasser Action, alleges, among other things, that the Company and the Board filed or caused to be filed a materially false and misleading preliminary proxy statement with the SEC in violation of Section 14(a) and Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14a-9 promulgated thereunder. The Lacoff, Walsh and Philips Actions generally allege state law claims for breach of fiduciary duty, failure to disclose and aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty. Certain of the Actions seek, among other things, an injunction enjoining the stockholder vote at the Special Meeting or consummation of the Merger, rescission of the Merger in the event the Merger is consummated or awarding of rescissory damages, an order for the directors of the Company to exercise their fiduciary duties to disseminate a preliminary proxy statement that is not materially false or misleading and an award of costs, including reasonable attorneys’ and experts’ fees.

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Although the Company believes that the claims in the Actions are wholly without merit and that no further disclosure is required under applicable law to supplement the proxy statement filed by the Company in connection with the Merger, the Company filed a supplement to the proxy statement on May 6, 2024 addressing alleged disclosure claims in order to eliminate the burden, expense and uncertainties inherent in such litigation, without admitting any liability or wrongdoing. On May 6, 2024, the plaintiff in the Lacoff Action (the sole Action that had sought an injunction enjoining the stockholder vote regarding the Merger) withdrew the motion for a preliminary injunction.

Supplier Concentrations. The Company primarily utilizes four distributors, McLane Company Inc., Lineage Foodservice Solutions, LLC, Reinhart Food Service LLC and Performance Foodservice, to supply its Burger King restaurants with the majority of its foodstuffs. As of March 31, 2024, such distributors supplied 30%, 31%, 29% and 10%, respectively, of the Company's Burger King restaurants. Additionally, one bakery company supplies the rolls used in approximately 50% of the Company's Burger King restaurants and a second bakery company supplies rolls for another approximately 26% of the Company's Burger King restaurants. The Company utilizes three distributors for its Popeyes restaurants. All three distributors provide poultry products and two provide all other products. For the Company's Popeyes restaurants, one distributor, Performance Foodservice, is the poultry product supplier for 86% of its restaurants and the non-poultry products supplier for 95% of its restaurants.

Advisory Fees. The Company has agreed to pay Jefferies LLC ("Jefferies") for its financial advisory services to the Special Committee in connection with the Merger an aggregate fee based upon a percentage of the transaction value of the Merger which is estimated to be approximately $12.3 million, of which $2.0 million was payable as of March 31, 2024. The remainder of this fee is payable to Jefferies contingent upon the closing of the Merger. In addition, Carrols agreed to reimburse Jefferies for expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel, incurred in connection with Jefferies’ engagement and to indemnify Jefferies and related parties against liabilities, including liabilities under federal securities laws, arising out of or in connection with the services rendered and to be rendered by Jefferies under its engagement.

11. Transactions with Related Parties

In connection with an acquisition of restaurants from Burger King Corporation ("BKC"), a subsidiary of RBI, in 2012, the Company issued to BKC 100 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, which was exchanged for 100 shares of newly issued Series B Convertible Preferred Stock ("Series B Preferred Stock") in 2018. The Series B Preferred Stock was further exchanged for 100 shares of newly issued Series D Convertible Preferred Stock in 2022. These preferred shares are convertible into 9,414,580 shares of common stock, which as of March 31, 2024 represents approximately 14.6% of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock after giving effect to the conversion of the Series D Preferred Stock and excluding shares held in treasury. Pursuant to the Certificate of Designation of the Series D Preferred Stock (the "Certificate of Designation"), the BKC Stockholders are entitled to elect two representatives on the Company's Board of Directors. The approval of the BKC Stockholders is also required before the Company can take certain actions, including, among other things, amending the Company's certificate of incorporation or bylaws, declaring or paying a special cash dividend, amending the size of the Company's Board of Directors, or engaging in any business other than the ownership and operation of Burger King restaurants, in each case as more particularly described in the Certificate of Designation.

On January 16, 2024, the Company entered into the Merger Agreement with RBI and BK Cheshire Corp., a Delaware corporation and subsidiary of RBI, providing for the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation as disclosed in Note 1.

The Company operates its Burger King restaurants under franchise agreements with BKC and its Popeyes restaurants under franchise agreements with Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. ("PLK"), both subsidiaries of RBI. These franchise agreements generally provide for an initial term of twenty years and currently have an initial franchise fee of $50,000. With BKC's and PLK's respective approval, the Company can elect to extend franchise agreements for additional 20 year terms, provided that the restaurant meets the current restaurant image standard and the Company is not in default under terms of the franchise agreement. The Company’s franchise agreements

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

routinely and expectedly come up for renewal in the ordinary course of business. The Company has a history of successfully renegotiating franchise agreements as they become available for renewal, and does not anticipate that existing franchise agreement expirations or anticipated franchise agreement expirations will have a material impact on the Company’s ability to operate its franchised restaurant locations. In addition to the initial franchise fee, the Company generally pays BKC a monthly royalty at a rate of 4.5% of Burger King restaurant sales and PLK a weekly royalty at a rate of 5.0% of Popeyes restaurant sales. Royalty expense was $20.3 million and $19.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023, respectively, and is included in other restaurant operating expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). Beginning in May of 2021, the Company also pays a monthly fee to BKC for use of its digital platform, which was $0.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and $0.7 million in the three months ended April 2, 2023, respectively, and is included in other restaurant operating expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

The Company is also generally required to contribute 4.0% of restaurant sales from its restaurants to an advertising fund utilized by BKC and PLK for advertising, promotional programs and public relations activities, and additional amounts for local advertising in markets that approve such advertising. Advertising expense associated with these expenditures was $17.9 million and $17.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023, respectively.

As of March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023, the Company leased 217 and 220 of its restaurant locations from BKC, respectively. As of March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023, the terms and conditions of the leases with BKC are identical to those between BKC and their third party lessors for 95 and 93 restaurants, respectively. Aggregate rent under these BKC leases was $7.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and $7.1 million for the three months ended April 2, 2023, respectively. The Company does not believe that such lease terms have been significantly affected by the fact that the Company and BKC are deemed to be related parties.

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company owed BKC and PLK $17.9 million and $16.9 million, respectively, related to the payment of advertising, royalties, digital fees, rent and real estate taxes, which is normally remitted on a monthly basis. These costs are included in accounts payable, other current liabilities, and accrued real estate taxes on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

The Company, Carrols Corporation, Carrols LLC, and BKC entered into an Amended Area Development Agreement on January 4, 2021 (the "Amended ADA"). Under the Amended ADA, Carrols LLC has agreed to open, build and operate a total of 50 new Burger King restaurants, 80% of which must be in Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. This includes four Burger King restaurants by September 30, 2021 (which were completed in 2021), 10 additional Burger King restaurants by September 30, 2022 (of which six were completed in 2022), 12 additional Burger King restaurants by September 30, 2023 (of which three were completed in 2023), 12 additional Burger King restaurants by September 30, 2024 and 12 additional Burger King restaurants by September 30, 2025. There is a 90-day cure period to meet the required restaurant development each development year. The Company is in ongoing discussions with BKC regarding its development plans, and does not believe the penalties, if any, associated with not meeting these commitments will be material.

In addition, pursuant to the Amended ADA, BKC granted Carrols LLC franchise pre-approval to build new Burger King restaurants or acquire Burger King restaurants from Burger King franchisees with respect to 500 Burger King restaurants in the aggregate in (i) Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana (excluding certain geographic areas in Indiana) and (ii) (a) 16 states, which include Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia (subject to certain exceptions for certain limited geographic areas within certain states) and (b) any other geographic locations that Carrols LLC enters after the commencement date of the Amended ADA pursuant to BKC procedures subject to certain limitations. This pre-approval may be suspended during such time that the Company is not in compliance with its development commitments described above.

In 2022, the Company entered an agreement with BKC in connection with their "Reclaim the Flame" investment plan. Pursuant to this initiative, BKC has agreed to fund $120 million in additional advertising

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

expenditures over the period October 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024. Following the franchisor's investment period in 2023 and 2024, participating franchisees have agreed to increase their advertising fund contributions by 50 basis points through 2026 if a profitability threshold for the Burger King system is met for the full fiscal year 2024, and further through 2028 if a secondary profitability threshold is met for the full fiscal year 2026.

In 2023, certain subsidiaries of the Company entered into certain agreements and related documentation with BKC related to its Royal Reset program and BKC's restaurant technology initiatives:

•With respect to BKC's initiative to match restaurant maintenance expenses with restaurant technology investments, BKC will provide the Company with the use of certain restaurant technology equipment worth approximately $12.2 million, conditioned upon the Company completing certain repairs, replacements and improvements with respect to its restaurant assets at a cost of approximately $12.2 million by March 31, 2024. As of March 31, 2024, $11.4 million in equipment has been received by the Company related to this arrangement, including approximately $1.8 million for self-ordering kiosks at 227 restaurants, and the Company has completed more than the required $12.2 million in qualified repairs, replacements and improvements.

•With respect to BKC's initiative to accelerate the pace of restaurant remodeling, the Company entered into an agreement with BKC to remodel 64 restaurants in total between 2023 and 2024 in connection with their "Royal Reset" remodel incentive program. As of March 31, 2024, eight locations have been remodeled in connection with this arrangement. Contributions of $0.4 million were received from BKC as of March 31, 2024 and an additional $1.5 million is included as a receivable related to contributions for these remodel projects.

•In December 2023, the Company entered into an agreement with BKC under which BKC has agreed to provide the Company with self-order kiosks conditioned upon the purchase of additional self-order kiosks for the restaurants beyond the restaurant technology investments as part of BKC's Royal Reset agreements. Among other things, under this agreement, if the Company provides written notice to BKC by March 31, 2024 to purchase kiosks worth $1.7 million, BKC will provide the Company with an additional $2.5 million of kiosks for use in the restaurants, for a total of $4.2 million of kiosks. These kiosks must be installed by September 30, 2024. The Company may also elect to further expand kiosk installation and if, by written notice to BKC no later than May 31, 2024, the Company agrees to purchase up to an additional $2.5 million of kiosks, BKC will provide the Company with additional kiosks worth up to $3.7 million for use in the restaurants for a total additional amount of up to $6.2 million of kiosks. These additional kiosks must be installed by December 31, 2024.

In October of 2023, Fiesta was acquired by affiliates of Garnett Station Partners ("GSP"). Matthew Perelman and Alexander Sloane, each a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, are affiliates of GSP and affiliates of Cambridge Franchise Holdings, LLC which owns approximately 16.2% of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock. As disclosed in Note 10, Fiesta is a former wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and the Company remains guarantor on eight Fiesta restaurant property leases.

12. Stockholders' Equity

Stock Repurchase Program. On August 2, 2019, the Company's Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase plan ("Repurchase Program") under which the Company may repurchase up to $25 million of its outstanding common stock. The authorization became effective August 2, 2019.

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

In August 2023, the Company's Board of Directors approved an extension of the Company's Repurchase Program with approximately $11.0 million of its original $25 million in capacity remaining. The authorization will expire on August 2, 2025, unless terminated earlier by the Board of Directors. Purchases under the Repurchase Program may be made from time to time in open market transactions at prevailing market prices or in privately negotiated transactions (including, without limitation, the use of Rule 10b5-1 plans) in compliance with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act. The Company has no obligation to repurchase stock under the Repurchase Program, and the timing, actual number and value of shares purchased will depend on the Company's stock price, trading volume, general market and economic conditions, and other factors.

At March 31, 2024, $11.0 million was available to repurchase shares under the Repurchase Program. Shares repurchased are being held in treasury until they are retired at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Cash Dividend. Effective February 22, 2024, the Company's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.02 per share on all issued and outstanding shares of the Company's common stock, including common stock issuable on the conversion of our Series D Convertible Preferred Stock. The cash dividend totaling of $1.3 million was paid on April 5, 2024 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 11, 2024 and was included in other current liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2024.

13. Net Income per Share

The Company applies the two-class method to calculate and present net income per share. The Company's non-vested restricted share awards and Series D Convertible Preferred Stock held by the BKC Stockholders contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends and are considered participating securities for purposes of computing net income per share pursuant to the two-class method. Under the two-class method, net earnings are reduced by the amount of dividends declared (whether paid or unpaid) and the remaining undistributed earnings are then allocated to common stock and participating securities, based on their respective rights to receive dividends.

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the reporting period. Diluted net income per share reflects additional shares of common stock outstanding, where applicable, calculated using the treasury stock method or the two-class method.

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Tabular amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted net income per share:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Basic net income per share:
Net income	$	3,664	$	864
Less: Income attributable to non-vested shares	(193)		(129)
Less: Income attributable to preferred stock	(529)		(31)
Net income available to common stockholders	$	2,942	$	704
Weighted average common shares outstanding	52,325,476		51,422,010
Basic net income per share (1)	$	0.06	$	0.01
Diluted net income per share:
Net income	$	3,664	$	864
Shares used in computing basic net income per share	52,325,476		51,422,010
Dilutive effect of preferred stock and non-vested shares	11,896,401		9,998,024
Shares used in computing diluted net income per share	64,221,877		61,420,034
Diluted net income per share (1)	$	0.06	$	0.01

(1)The Company has considered the impact of dividends declared when determining undistributed earnings in the use of the two-class method, and has not reflected that in the table above as the computation has not yielded a change in the calculated basic and diluted net income per share.

14. Other Income, net

The three months ended March 31, 2024 included other income, net, of $2.0 million, which was comprised of net gains from insurance recoveries of $1.5 million, a gain from condemnation of a property of $0.7 million and a loss on disposal of assets of $0.2 million. The three months ended April 2, 2023 included other income, net, of $1.5 million, which was comprised of net gains from insurance recoveries of $0.9 million, a gain of $0.8 million from the derecognition of a lease financing obligation associated with a prior sale leaseback transaction and a loss on disposal of assets of $0.2 million.

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ITEM 2—MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

We operate on a 52 or 53 week fiscal year ending on the Sunday closest to December 31. Our fiscal quarters are comprised of 13 weeks, with the exception of the fourth quarter of a 53 week year, which contains 14 weeks. Our fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 29, 2024 each contain 52 weeks.

Introduction

The following Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (or "MD&A") is written to help the reader understand our company. The MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements appearing elsewhere in this report and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The overview provides our perspective on the individual sections of MD&A, which include the following:

Company Overview—a general description of our business and our key financial measures.

Recent and Future Events Affecting Our Results of Operations—a description of recent events that affect, and future events that may affect, our results of operations.

Results from Operations—an analysis of our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended April 2, 2023, including a review of material items and known trends and uncertainties.

Liquidity and Capital Resources—an analysis of our cash flows, including capital expenditures, the existence and timing of commitments and contingencies, changes in capital resources and a discussion of known trends that may impact liquidity.

Application of Critical Accounting Estimates—an overview of accounting policies requiring critical judgments and estimates.

Forward Looking Statements—cautionary information about forward-looking statements and a description of certain risks and projections.

Company Overview

Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, "Carrols Restaurant Group", the "Company", "we", "our" or "us") is one of the largest restaurant companies in the United States and has been operating restaurants for more than 60 years. We are the largest Burger King franchisee in the United States based on number of restaurants, and have operated Burger King restaurants since 1976. As of March 31, 2024 we operated, as franchisee, a total of 1,082 restaurants in 23 states under the trade names of Burger King and Popeyes. This included 1,023 Burger King restaurants in 23 Northeastern, Midwestern, Southcentral and Southeastern states and 59 Popeyes restaurants in six Southeastern states.

Any reference to "BKC" refers to Burger King Company LLC (previously Burger King Corporation) and its indirect parent company, Restaurant Brands International Inc. ("RBI"). Any reference to "PLK" refers to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. and its indirect parent company, RBI.

On January 16, 2024, we entered into the Merger Agreement with RBI and BK Cheshire Corp., a Delaware corporation and subsidiary of RBI, providing for the merger of Merger Sub with and into us, with us continuing as the surviving corporation as disclosed in the Recent and Future Events Affecting our Results of Operations.

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The following is an overview of the key financial measures discussed in our results of operations:

•Restaurant sales consists of food and beverage sales at our restaurants, net of sales discounts and refunds and excluding sales tax. Restaurant sales are influenced by changes in comparable restaurant sales, our franchisors' marketing and promotional activities, menu price changes, guest traffic, new restaurant development, restaurant acquisitions and closures of restaurants. Comparable restaurant sales reflect the change in year-over-year sales for a comparable restaurant base. Restaurants we acquire are included in comparable restaurant sales after they have been owned for 12 months and newly developed restaurants are included in comparable restaurant sales after they have been open for 15 months. Restaurants are excluded from comparable restaurant sales during extended periods of closure, which primarily occur due to restaurant remodeling activity. For comparative purposes, where applicable, the calculation of the changes in comparable restaurant sales is based either on a 53-week or 52-week year and compares against the respective 52-week prior period.

•Food, beverage, and packaging costs consists of food, beverage and packaging costs and delivery commissions, less purchase discounts and vendor rebates. Food, beverage, and packaging costs are generally influenced by changes in commodity costs, the mix of items sold, the level of promotional discounting, menu price changes, the effectiveness of our restaurant-level controls to manage food and paper costs, and the relative contribution of delivery sales.

•Restaurant wages and related expenses include all restaurant management and hourly productive labor costs and related benefits, employer payroll taxes and restaurant-level bonuses. Payroll and related benefits are subject to inflation, including minimum wage increases as well as competitive wage increases required to adequately staff our restaurants and increased costs for health insurance, workers' compensation insurance and federal and state unemployment insurance.

•Restaurant rent expense includes straight-lined lease costs and variable rent on our restaurant leases characterized as operating leases.

•Other restaurant operating expenses include all other restaurant-level operating costs, the major components of which are royalty expenses paid to BKC and PLK, utilities, repairs and maintenance, operating supplies, real estate taxes and credit card fees.

•Advertising expense includes advertising payments to BKC and PLK based on a percentage of sales as required under our franchise and operating agreements and additional local marketing and promotional expenses in certain of our markets.

•General and administrative expenses are comprised primarily of salaries and expenses associated with corporate and administrative functions that support the development and operations of our restaurants, legal, auditing and other professional fees, acquisition costs and stock-based compensation expense.

•EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income are non-GAAP financial measures. EBITDA represents net income before income taxes, interest expense, and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA adjusted to exclude impairment and other lease charges, stock-based compensation expense, restaurant pre-opening costs, executive transition, non-recurring litigation and other professional expenses, and other income, net. Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA represents income from operations as adjusted to exclude general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, impairment and other lease charges, restaurant pre-opening costs and other income, net. Adjusted Net Income represents net income as adjusted, net of tax, to exclude impairment and other lease charges, restaurant pre-opening costs, executive transition, non-recurring litigation and other professional expenses, other income, net, and the change in the valuation allowance for deferred taxes.

•We are presenting Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income because we believe that they provide a more meaningful comparison than EBITDA and net income of our core business operating results, as well as with those of other similar companies. Additionally, we present Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA because it excludes restaurant pre-opening costs, other income, net, and the impact of general and administrative expenses such as salaries and expenses associated with corporate and administrative functions that support the development and operations of our restaurants, legal, auditing and other professional fees. Although these costs are not directly related to restaurant-level operations, these costs are necessary for the profitability of our restaurants.

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Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income, when viewed with our results of operations in accordance with U.S. GAAP and the accompanying reconciliations on page 36, provide useful information about operating performance and period-over-period growth, and provide additional information that is useful for evaluating the operating performance of our core business without regard to potential distortions. Additionally, management believes that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA permit investors to gain an understanding of the factors and trends affecting our ongoing cash earnings, from which capital investments are made and debt is serviced.

However, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income are not measures of financial performance or liquidity under U.S. GAAP and, accordingly, should not be considered as alternatives to net income, income from operations or cash flow from operating activities as indicators of operating performance or liquidity. Also, these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled captions of other companies. For the reconciliation between Net Income to EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income and the reconciliation of income from operations to Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA, see page 36.

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income have important limitations as analytical tools. These limitations include the following:

•EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA do not reflect our capital expenditures, future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments to purchase capital equipment;

•EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA do not reflect the interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service principal or interest payments on our debt;

•Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets that we currently depreciate and amortize will likely have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA do not reflect the cash required to fund such replacements; and

•EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income do not reflect the effect of earnings or charges resulting from matters that our management does not consider to be indicative of our ongoing operations. However, some of these charges (such as impairment and other lease charges, non-recurring litigation costs and changes in the valuation allowance for deferred taxes) have recurred and may reoccur.

•Depreciation and amortization primarily includes the depreciation of fixed assets, including equipment, owned buildings and leasehold improvements utilized in our restaurants, the amortization of franchise rights from our acquisitions of restaurants and the amortization of franchise fees paid to BKC and PLK.

•Impairment and other lease charges include charges resulting from the following circumstances:

•For property and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets, a potential impairment charge is evaluated whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of these assets may not be fully recoverable. If an indicator of impairment exists, an estimate of the aggregate undiscounted cash flows from the acquired restaurants is compared to the respective carrying value of franchise rights for each acquisition. If an asset is determined to be impaired, the loss is measured by the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its fair value.

•For indefinite lived intangible assets including goodwill, a potential impairment charge is evaluated whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may be impaired. Impairment charges are determined by a comparison of the carrying value of a reporting unit to its fair value.

•For restaurant closures prior to their lease or franchise end dates, lease charges are recorded for our obligations under the related leases and franchise agreements for closed locations that are not otherwise recoverable.

•Interest expense consists of interest expense associated with our Term B Loans under our Senior Credit Facilities, our 5.875% Senior Notes Due 2029 (the "Notes"), our revolving credit borrowings under our Senior Credit Facilities, finance lease liabilities, amortization of deferred financing costs, amortization of

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original issue discount, and payments and receipts made in connection with our interest rate swap arrangement.

Recent and Future Events Affecting our Results of Operations

Merger Agreement

On January 16, 2024, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with RBI and BK Cheshire Corp., a Delaware corporation and subsidiary of RBI (“Merger Sub”, and together with RBI, the “Buyer Parties”), providing for the merger of Merger Sub with and into us, with us continuing as the surviving corporation (the “Merger”).

A special transaction committee (the “Special Committee”) of independent and disinterested members of our board of directors (the “Board”) unanimously recommended that the Board approve and adopt the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and recommend that the stockholders of the Company adopt the Merger Agreement. Thereafter, the Board approved and adopted the Merger Agreement and resolved to recommend that the stockholders of the Company adopt the Merger Agreement. Subject to the terms and conditions and certain exceptions set forth in the Merger Agreement, each share of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”) will, at the Effective Time, automatically be converted into the right to receive $9.55 in cash, without interest, subject to any required tax withholding.

If the Merger is consummated, our common stock will be delisted from The NASDAQ Global Market and deregistered under the Exchange Act, as promptly as practicable following the Effective Time. The Merger is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024 subject to the conditions set forth below.

Consummation of the Merger is subject to certain conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including, but not limited to, the: (A) affirmative vote of the holders of (i) a majority of all of the outstanding shares of our capital stock to adopt the Merger Agreement and (ii) a majority of all of the outstanding shares of our common stock held by the Unaffiliated Company Stockholders (as defined in the Merger Agreement) to adopt the Merger Agreement; (B) expiration or termination of any waiting periods (and any extensions thereof) applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended; (C) absence of any law or order in the United States restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger; and (D) absence of a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement).

The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for us, on the one hand, and the Buyer Parties, on the other hand. Upon termination of the Merger Agreement under specified circumstances, we will be required to pay RBI a termination fee of $19.0 million. In addition to the foregoing termination rights, and subject to certain limitations, we or RBI may terminate the Merger Agreement if the Merger is not consummated by November 30, 2024.

On April 12, 2024, notice was given that our special meeting of stockholders will be held on May 14, 2024, to consider and vote on the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and a proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation that will or may become payable to our named executive officers in connection with the Merger.

Each of RBI, Merger Sub and us made customary representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement and agreed to customary covenants, including, among others, a covenant by us regarding the operation of our business and our subsidiaries prior to the consummation of the Merger. The Merger Agreement also provides that we, on the one hand, or the Buyer Parties, on the other hand, may specifically enforce the obligations under the Merger Agreement, including the obligation to consummate the Merger if the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement are satisfied.

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We have agreed to pay Jefferies LLC ("Jefferies") for its financial advisory services to the Special Committee in connection with the Merger an aggregate fee based upon a percentage of the transaction value of the Merger which is estimated to be approximately $12.3 million, of which $2.0 million was payable as of March 31, 2024. The remainder of this fee is payable to Jefferies contingent upon the closing of the Merger. In addition, Carrols agreed to reimburse Jefferies for expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel, incurred in connection with Jefferies’ engagement and to indemnify Jefferies and related parties against liabilities, including liabilities under federal securities laws, arising out of or in connection with the services rendered and to be rendered by Jefferies under its engagement. As of March 31, 2024, we have also incurred $3.5 million of additional merger related costs.

BKC's "Reclaim the Flame" Plan

In September 2022, BKC announced its "Reclaim the Flame" plan, which was developed in collaboration with its franchisees to accelerate sales growth and drive restaurant-level profitability. The plan includes Burger King investing $400 million through 2024, comprised of $150 million in advertising and digital investments to "Fuel the Flame" and $250 million for a "Royal Reset" involving investments in restaurant technology, kitchen equipment, building enhancements and high-quality remodels and relocations. Under BKC's "Royal Reset" program, BKC will make certain contributions towards franchisee remodel costs, which increase in value if BKC owns the property and/or if the franchisee agrees to pay higher royalty rates over the 20-year franchise term renewal. The "Royal Reset" program also includes a $50 million co-investment with its franchisees in a restaurant refresh program, whereby BKC will match certain restaurant improvement spending by franchisees by providing them with restaurant technology equipment at no cost.

We have entered into the following agreements related to BKC's "Reclaim the Flame" plan:

•In the third quarter of 2022, we entered into an agreement with BKC in connection with their "Reclaim the Flame" investment plan. Pursuant to this initiative, BKC has agreed to fund $120 million in additional advertising expenditures over the period October 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024. Following the investment period in 2023 and 2024, participating franchisees, including us, have agreed to increase our advertising fund contributions by 50 basis points through 2026 if a profitability threshold for the Burger King system is met for the full fiscal year 2024, and further through 2028 if a secondary profitability threshold is met for the full fiscal year 2026.

•In the second quarter of 2023, we entered into an agreement and related documentation with BKC in connection with their "Royal Reset" program that will provide us with approximately $12.2 million of restaurant technology equipment, conditioned upon us completing certain repairs, replacements and improvements to our restaurant assets at a cost of approximately $12.2 million by March 31, 2024. As of March 31, 2024, approximately $11.4 million in equipment has been received by us related to this arrangement and we have completed more than the required qualified repairs, replacements and improvements. As of March 31, 2024, 227 restaurants have kiosks installed, which we expect will drive sales with higher average checks and enhance the guest experience. As of March 31, 2024 we have completed more than the required $12.2 million in qualified repairs, replacements and improvements.

•In the third quarter of 2023, we entered into an agreement with BKC to remodel 64 restaurants in total between 2023 and 2024 in connection with their "Royal Reset" remodel incentive program. As of March 31, 2024, eight restaurants have been remodeled in connection with this arrangement. We expect approximately one-half of the projects we begin in 2024 to be in BKC's latest "Sizzle" restaurant image. The new “Sizzle” format includes enhancements to guest experience through digital improvements, updated drive-thru and pick-up, as well as signature design elements We completed the first ground-up "Sizzle" restaurant in the Burger King system in October 2023 in Marion, North Carolina.

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BKC Kiosk Agreement

In December 2023, we entered into an agreement which was amended in April 2024 with BKC under which BKC has agreed to provide us with self-ordering kiosks conditioned upon us purchasing additional self-order kiosks for our restaurants beyond the restaurant technology investments as part of BKC's Royal Reset agreements. Among other things, under this agreement, if we provide written notice to BKC by June 30, 2024 to purchase kiosks worth $1.7 million, BKC will provide us with an additional $2.5 million of kiosks for use in our restaurants, for a total of $4.2 million of kiosks. These kiosks must be installed by December 31, 2024. We may also elect to further expand kiosk installation and if, by written notice to BKC no later than August 31, 2024, we agree to purchase up to an additional $2.5 million of kiosks, BKC will provide us with additional kiosks worth up to $3.7 million for use in our restaurants for a total additional amount of up to $6.2 million of kiosks. These additional kiosks must be installed by March 31, 2025. As of March 31, 2024 we have purchased kiosks for 227 restaurants totaling $1.8 million.

Capital Expenditures

During the first quarter of 2024, we completed remodels of three Burger King restaurants, one Popeyes restaurant and opened one Burger King restaurant. We continue to review on an ongoing basis our future development and remodel plans in relation to our available capital resources, supply chain availability and our return on investment. In 2023, we entered into an agreement with BKC where we agreed to remodel 64 restaurants in total between 2023 and 2024, in connection with their “Royal Reset” remodel incentive program which will increase our levels of capital expenditures compared to 2022 and 2023. As of March 31, 2024 we have completed eight of these Burger King remodels.

Cash Dividend

Effective February 22, 2024, the Board declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.02 per share on all issued and outstanding shares of our common stock, including common stock issuable on the conversion of our Series D Preferred Stock. The quarterly cash dividend which totaled $1.3 million was paid on April 5, 2024 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 11, 2024.

Area Development and Remodeling Agreement

The Company, Carrols Corporation, Carrols LLC, and BKC entered into an Amended and Restated Area Development Agreement on January 4, 2021 (the "Amended ADA"). Under the Amended ADA, Carrols LLC has agreed to open, build and operate a total of 50 new Burger King restaurants, 80% of which must be in Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. This includes four Burger King restaurants by September 30, 2021 (which were completed in 2021), 10 additional Burger King restaurants by September 30, 2022 (of which six were completed in 2022), 12 additional Burger King restaurants by September 30, 2023 (of which three were completed in 2023), 12 additional Burger King restaurants by September 30, 2024 and 12 additional Burger King restaurants by September 30, 2025. There is a 90-day cure period to meet the required restaurant development each development year. We are in ongoing discussions with BKC regarding its development plans, and do not believe the penalties, if any, associated with not meeting these commitments will be material.

In addition, pursuant to the Amended ADA, BKC granted Carrols LLC franchise pre-approval to build new Burger King restaurants or acquire Burger King restaurants from Burger King franchisees with respect to 500 Burger King restaurants in the aggregate in (i) Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana (excluding certain geographic areas in Indiana) and (ii) (a) 16 states, which include Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia (subject to certain exceptions for certain limited geographic areas within certain states) and (b) any other geographic locations that Carrols LLC enters after the commencement date of the Amended ADA pursuant to BKC procedures subject to certain limitations. This pre-approval may be suspended as long as we are not in compliance with the development commitments described above.

Issuance of Senior Notes and Amendments to our Senior Credit Facilities

Senior Credit Facilities. On April 30, 2019, we entered into senior secured credit facilities in an aggregate principal amount of $550.0 million, consisting of (i) a Term Loan B facility in an aggregate principal amount of $425.0 million (the "Term Loan B Facility") maturing on April 30, 2026, and (ii) a revolving credit facility (including a sub-facility of $35.0 million for standby letters of credit) in an aggregate principal amount of $125.0

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million originally maturing on April 30, 2024 (the "Revolving Credit Facility" and, together with the Term Loan B Facility, the "Senior Credit Facilities"). As of March 31, 2024 the Senior Credit Facilities, as amended, provide for an aggregate maximum commitment available for borrowings and issuances of letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility of $215.0 million. The Revolving Credit Facility matures on January 29, 2026.

As of March 31, 2024, there were no revolving credit borrowings outstanding and $11.0 million of letters of credit were issued under our Revolving Credit Facility. After reserving for issued letters of credit and outstanding revolving credit borrowings, $204.0 million was available for revolving credit borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility at March 31, 2024.

During the fourth quarter of 2023, we made a voluntary prepayment of $30.0 million on the outstanding principal amount of our Term Loan B borrowings under our Senior Credit Facilities.

Senior Notes due 2029. On June 28, 2021, we issued $300.0 million principal amount of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2029 in a private placement. During the fourth quarter of 2023, we repurchased $9.9 million of our outstanding Notes in the open market.

Interest Rate Swap Agreement

In March 2020 we entered into an interest rate swap agreement with certain of our lenders under the Senior Credit Facilities to mitigate the risk of increases in the variable interest rate related to term loan borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities. The agreement matures on February 28, 2025. The interest rate swap originally fixed the interest rate on 50% of outstanding borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility at 0.915% plus the applicable margin in our Senior Credit Facilities with the difference settled monthly. The original notional amount of $220.0 million was reduced to $120.0 million in 2021 and the fixed rate was changed in 2022 from 0.915% plus the applicable margin to 0.854% plus the applicable margin in connection with the transition from LIBOR to SOFR as the benchmark rate on our Senior Credit Facilities.

We received $1.4 million and $1.1 million to settle the interest rate swap during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023, respectively.

Restaurant Closures

We evaluate the performance of our restaurants on an ongoing basis including an assessment of the current and future operating results of each restaurant in relation to its cash flow and future occupancy costs, and with regard to franchise agreement renewals, the cost of required capital improvements. We may elect to close restaurants based on these evaluations.

In 2023, we permanently closed five Burger King restaurants, including one restaurant relocated within its trade area, and five Popeyes restaurants. In the first three months of 2024, we permanently closed one Popeyes restaurant. We currently anticipate less than five restaurant closures in all of 2024, excluding any restaurants being relocated within their trade area.

Our determination of whether to close restaurants in the future is subject to further evaluation and may change. We may incur lease charges in the future from closures of underperforming restaurants prior to the expiration of their contractual lease term. We do not believe that the future impact on our results of operations due to restaurant closures will be material, although there can be no assurance in this regard.

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Effect of Minimum Wage Increases

We are subject to minimum wage requirements in the states and municipalities we operate in, and periodically these municipalities have and may continue to increase these minimum wage rates. Notably, for our restaurant portfolio as of March 31, 2024:

•124 restaurants in New York will have minimum wage rates increase to $15.50 per hour as of January 1, 2025 and $16.00 per hour as of January 1, 2026;

•115 restaurants in Ohio had a minimum wage rate increase to $10.45 per hour as of January 1, 2024;

•67 restaurants in Virginia will have minimum wage rates increase to $13.50 per hour as of January 1, 2025 and $15.00 per hour as of January 1, 2026;

•56 restaurants in Michigan had a minimum wage rate increase to $10.33 per hour as of January 1, 2024 which will further increase to $10.56 per hour as of January 1, 2025, $10.86 per hour as of January 1, 2026 and $11.04 per hour as of January 1, 2027;

•16 restaurants in Illinois had a minimum wage rate increase to $14.00 per hour as of January 1, 2024 which will increase to $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2025;

•in Maryland, 15 restaurants had a minimum wage rate increase to $15.00 per hour as of January 1, 2024, 11 restaurants had a minimum wage rate increase to $16.60 per hour as of January 1, 2024, and three restaurants will increase to $16.70 per hour on July 1, 2024; and

•Ten restaurants in New Jersey had a minimum wage rate increase to $15.13 per hour as of January 1, 2024.

In many instances, we are already paying higher wage rate than the existing statutory minimum hourly wage rates. Overall, we expect the impact from increases in hourly labor rates at our restaurants to be an increase of 3.2% for 2024, inclusive of normal merit increases as well as the impact from the statutory minimum hourly wage rate increases described herein.

New York State has a Youth Jobs Program tax credit extending through 2027 from which we have received tax credits annually. We expect to receive approximately $0.7 million from New York State related to these credits for 2024 and 2025.

On April 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a new rule increasing the minimum salary a manager or assistant manager must earn to be exempt from overtime pay requirements. Effective July 1, 2024, the minimum salary requirement will be $844 per week (which is equivalent to $43,888 per year), increasing to $1,128 per week (which is equivalent to $58,656 per year) on January 1, 2025. While we have not fully determined how the new rules will impact our business, we estimate implementing without any other changes could add an increase of approximately 0.1% in labor costs as a percentage of net sales in 2025.

We typically attempt to offset the effects of wage inflation, at least in part, through periodic menu price increases. However, no assurance can be given that we will be able to offset these wage increases in the future.

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Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 Compared to Three Months Ended April 2, 2023

The following table highlights the key components of sales and the number of restaurants in operation for our first quarter ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the first quarter ended April 2, 2023:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024			April 2, 2023
Restaurant Sales	$	452,192		$	445,162
Burger King	428,256			421,937
Popeyes	23,936			23,225

Change in Comparable Restaurant Sales(a)	2.5		%	11.6		%
Change in comparable Burger King restaurant sales(a)	2.3		%	11.7		%
Change in comparable Popeyes restaurant sales(a)	6.8		%	9.5		%

Burger King Restaurants at beginning of period:	1,022			1,022
Restaurants opened, including relocations(b)	1			—

Restaurants closed, including relocations(b)	—			(3)
Burger King Restaurants at end of period	1,023			1,019
Average number of operating Burger King restaurants	1,009.8			1,021.8

Popeyes Restaurants at beginning of period:	60			65


Restaurants closed, including relocations(b)	(1)			—
Popeyes Restaurants at end of period	59			65
Average number of operating Popeyes restaurants	59.2			64.9

a.Restaurants we acquire are included in comparable restaurant sales after they have been operated by us for 12 months. Sales from restaurants that we develop are included in comparable restaurant sales after they have been open for 15 months. The calculation of changes in comparable restaurant sales is based on a comparison to the comparable 13-week period 52 weeks prior.

b.There were no restaurant relocations during the periods presented.

Restaurant Sales. Total restaurant sales in the first quarter of 2024 increased $7.0 million to $452.2 million from the first quarter of 2023. Our comparable restaurant sales increased 2.5% compared to the first quarter of 2023 which reflected an increase in average check of 4.6% which was partially offset by a decrease in customer traffic of 2.0%. The change in average check included a 6.5% effective price increase compared to the first quarter of 2023 for our Burger King restaurants and 1.8% for our Popeyes restaurants. Promotional sales discounts in the first quarter of 2024 were 10.6% of restaurant sales at our Burger King restaurants compared to 11.2% in the first quarter of 2023. Hours of operation have increased 0.9% in the first quarter of 2024 at our Burger King restaurants compared to the first quarter of 2023. Restaurant sales were also impacted by the six new Burger King restaurants opened since the end of the first quarter of 2023, the one Burger King restaurant and six Popeyes restaurants permanently closed since the end of the first quarter of 2023, and temporary closures for restaurants being remodeled.

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Operating Costs and Expenses (percentages stated as a percentage of total revenue). The following table sets forth, for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023, selected operating results as a percentage of total revenue:


	Three Months Ended (13 weeks)
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Costs and expenses (all restaurants):
Food, beverage and packaging costs	26.1	%	28.2	%
Restaurant wages and related expenses	33.3	%	32.9	%
Restaurant rent expense	7.1	%	7.2	%
Other restaurant operating expenses	16.4	%	15.5	%
Advertising expense	4.1	%	4.0	%
General and administrative	6.8	%	5.8	%

Food, beverage and packaging costs decreased to 26.1% of restaurant sales in the first quarter of 2024 from 28.2% of restaurant sales in the first quarter of 2023. This decrease was due to, as a percentage of total restaurant sales, menu price increases taken at our Burger King restaurants since the end of the first quarter of 2023 (2.0%) as well as higher supplier rebates (0.4%).

Restaurant wages and related expenses increased to 33.3% of restaurant sales in the first quarter of 2024 from 32.9% in the first quarter of 2023. Average hourly labor rates, inclusive of minimum wage increases, increased 2.9% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year first quarter. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in restaurant team member hours of 1.0%.

Restaurant rent expense decreased to 7.1% in the first quarter of 2024 from 7.2% in the first quarter of 2023 due to the impact of higher sales volumes on our rental costs, which were approximately 80% fixed.

Other restaurant operating expenses increased as a percentage of restaurant sales to 16.4% in the first quarter of 2024 from 15.5% of restaurant sales in the first quarter of 2023. In the first quarter of 2024 we had an increase in repairs and maintenance expenses (0.3%), general liability insurance costs (0.3%) and hardware and software maintenance costs (0.1%).

Advertising expense was 4.1% of restaurant sales in the first quarter of 2024 and 4.0% the first quarter of 2023.

Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA. As a result of the factors discussed above, Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA increased $4.2 million, or 7.7%, to $58.7 million in the first quarter of 2024 compared to $54.5 million in the first quarter of 2023. As a percentage of total restaurant sales, Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA increased to 13.0% in the first quarter of 2024 from 12.2% in the first quarter of 2023. For a reconciliation between Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA and income from operations see page 36.

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased $5.1 million in the first quarter of 2024 to $30.8 million, and increased to 6.8% as a percentage of total restaurant sales in the first quarter of 2024 from 5.8% in the first quarter of 2023. The $5.1 million increase was primarily due to legal and professional fees associated with the upcoming merger of $5.5 million, higher salaries and benefits of $1.2 million, and higher stock compensation expense of $0.9 million, which were partially offset by lower incentive accruals of $2.5 million.

Adjusted EBITDA. As a result of the factors above, Adjusted EBITDA increased to $35.4 million in the first quarter of 2024 from $30.7 million in the first quarter of 2023. As a percentage of total restaurant sales, Adjusted EBITDA increased to 7.8% in the first quarter of 2024 from 6.9% in the first quarter of 2023. For a reconciliation between net income and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA see page 36.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense. Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $0.2 million to $18.5 million in the first quarter of 2024 from $18.7 million in the first quarter of 2023.

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Impairment and Other Lease Charges. Impairment and other lease charges were $1.4 million consisting of $0.7 million related to initial impairment charges for four underperforming restaurants, $0.4 million of other lease charges primarily related to one planned restaurant closure and capital expenditures at previously impaired restaurants of $0.3 million. During the first quarter of 2023, we recorded impairment and other lease charges of $1.3 million consisting of capital expenditures at previously impaired restaurants of $0.1 million and $1.2 million of other lease charges related to three restaurants closed in the period.

Other Income, net. Other income, net, was $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2024 and included net gains from insurance recoveries of $1.5 million, a gain from condemnation of a property of $0.7 million and a loss on disposal of assets of $0.2 million. Other income, net, in the first quarter of 2023 included net gains from insurance recoveries of $0.9 million, a gain of $0.8 million from derecognition of a lease financing obligation associated with a prior sale leaseback transaction and a loss on disposal of assets of $0.2 million.

Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased to $6.4 million in the first quarter of 2024 from $8.2 million in the first quarter of 2023. This decrease was primarily driven by lower debt levels in the first quarter of 2024 due to the voluntary principal repayment in 2023 of $30.0 million of Term Loan B borrowings under our Senior Credit Facilities, the repurchase of $9.9 million of Notes in the open market in 2023, and the absence of revolver borrowings, as well as interest income earned on cash balances. Our weighted average interest rate for long-term borrowings decreased to 5.5% in the first quarter of 2024 from 5.8% in the first quarter of 2023.

Provision (benefit) for Income Taxes. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the benefit for income taxes was derived using an estimated effective annual income tax rate for all of 2024 of 17.9%, which excludes discrete tax adjustments. The difference compared to the statutory rate for 2024 is attributable to various permanent non-deductible expenses and non-refundable business credits which are not directly related to the amount of pre-tax income recorded in the period as well as the impact of changes to our valuation allowance on our deferred income tax assets, which decreased $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. There were also $0.7 million of discrete tax benefit adjustments in the first quarter of 2024.

For the three months ended April 2, 2023, the provision for income taxes was derived using an estimated effective annual income tax rate for all of 2023 of 18.7%, which excludes discrete tax adjustments. The difference compared to the statutory rate for 2023 is attributable to various permanent non-deductible expenses and non-refundable business credits which are not directly related to the amount of pre-tax income recorded in the period as well as the impact of changes to our valuation allowance on our deferred income tax assets, which decreased $1.3 million for the three months ended April 2, 2023. There were $0.8 million discrete tax expense adjustments in the first quarter of 2023.

Net Income. As a result of the above, net income for the first quarter of 2024 was $3.7 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, compared to net income in the first quarter of 2023 of $0.9 million, or $0.01 per diluted share.

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Results of Operations

Reconciliations of Net Income to EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income, and Income from operations to Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 are as follows (in thousands, except for per share data):


	Three Months Ended
Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Net Income	$	3,664	$	864
Provision (benefit) from income taxes	(10)		1,142
Interest expense	6,413		8,233
Depreciation and amortization	18,512		18,718
EBITDA	28,579		28,957
Impairment and other lease charges	1,356		1,340

Stock-based compensation expense	1,989		1,097

Pre-opening costs(1)	4		—
Merger, executive transition, and other professional expenses(2)	5,501		798
Other income, net(3)(4)	(2,041)		(1,506)

Adjusted EBITDA	$	35,388	$	30,686


Reconciliation of Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA:
Income from operations	$	10,067	$	10,239
Add:
General and administrative expenses	30,826		25,740

Pre-opening costs(1)	4		—
Depreciation and amortization	18,512		18,718
Impairment and other lease charges	1,356		1,340
Other income, net(3)(4)	(2,041)		(1,506)
Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA	$	58,724	$	54,531


Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income:
Net Income	$	3,664	$	864
Add:
Impairment and other lease charges	1,356		1,340


Pre-opening costs(1)	4		—
Merger, executive transition, and other professional expenses(2)	5,501		798
Other income, net(3)(4)	(2,041)		(1,506)

Income tax effect on above adjustments(5)	(1,205)		(158)
Valuation allowance for deferred taxes(6)	(125)		(1,331)
Adjusted Net Income	$	7,154	$	7
Adjusted diluted net income per share(7)	$	0.11	$	—
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	64,222		61,420

(1)Pre-opening costs for the three months ended March 31, 2024 include training, labor and occupancy costs incurred during the construction of new restaurants.

(2)Merger, executive transition, and other professional expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 include non-recurring legal and professional expenses related to the pending merger with RBI. Executive transition, litigation and other professional expenses for the three months ended April 2, 2023 include executive recruiting and transition costs and other non-recurring professional expenses.

(3)The three months ended March 31, 2024 included other income, net, of $2.0 million, which was comprised of net gains from insurance recoveries of $1.5 million, a gain from condemnation of a property of $0.7 million and a loss on disposal of assets of $0.2 million.

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(4)The three months ended April 2, 2023 included other income, net, of $1.5 million, which was comprised of net gains from insurance recoveries of $0.9 million, a gain of $0.8 million from the derecognition of a lease financing obligation associated with a prior sale leaseback transaction, and a loss on disposal of assets of $0.2 million.

(5)The income tax effect related to the adjustments to Adjusted Net Income was calculated using an incremental income tax rate of 25% for both the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023.

(6)Reflects the change in the valuation allowance on deferred income tax assets during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023.

(7)Adjusted diluted net income per share is calculated based on Adjusted Net Income and the dilutive weighted average common shares outstanding for the respective periods, where applicable.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As is common in the restaurant industry, we maintain relatively low levels of accounts receivable and inventories and receive trade credit based upon negotiated terms for purchasing food products and other supplies. As a result, we may at times maintain current liabilities in excess of current assets, which results in a working capital deficit. We are able to operate with a substantial working capital deficit because:

•restaurant operations are primarily conducted on a cash basis (including credit card payments);

•rapid turnover results in a limited investment in inventories; and

•cash from sales is usually received before related liabilities for supplies and payroll become due.

Interest payments under our debt obligations, capital expenditures (including for restaurant remodeling), payments of royalties and advertising to BKC and PLK, and payments related to our lease obligations represent significant liquidity requirements for us, not including any discretionary expenditures for the acquisition or development of additional Burger King and Popeyes restaurants.

If our future financing needs increase, we may need to arrange additional debt or equity financing. We continually evaluate and consider various financing alternatives to enhance or supplement our existing financial resources, including our Senior Credit Facilities. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to enter into any such arrangements on acceptable terms or at all.

We believe our cash balances, cash generated from our operations and availability of revolving credit borrowings under our Senior Credit Facilities provide sufficient cash availability to cover our anticipated working capital needs, capital expenditures and debt service requirements for at least the next twelve months.

Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $12.3 million in the first three months of 2024 compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $8.0 million in the first three months of 2023. The increase in the net cash provided was due primarily to an increase of $4.7 million in Adjusted EBITDA. Net working capital changes in the first three months of 2023 included a repayment of $10.8 million of employer payroll taxes deferred in 2020 under the CARES Act which is now fully repaid.

Investing Activities. Net cash used for investing activities in the first three months of 2024 and 2023 was $15.4 million and $6.9 million, respectively, reflecting higher levels of Burger King restaurant remodeling.

Capital expenditures are a large component of our investing activities and include: (1) new restaurant development, which may include the purchase of real estate; (2) restaurant remodeling, which includes the renovation or rebuilding of the interior and exterior of our existing restaurants including expenditures associated with our franchise agreement renewals and certain restaurants that we acquire; (3) other restaurant capital expenditures, which include capital maintenance expenditures for the ongoing reinvestment and enhancement of our restaurants, and from time to time, to support BKC's and PLK's initiatives; and (4) corporate and restaurant information systems, including expenditures for our point-of-sale systems for restaurants that we acquire.

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The following table sets forth our capital expenditures for the periods presented (dollar amounts in thousands):


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
New restaurant development	$	2,582	$	858
Restaurant remodeling	6,461		2,035
Other restaurant capital expenditures	4,289		3,774
Corporate and restaurant information systems	3,058		1,322
Total capital expenditures	$	16,390	$	7,989
Number of new restaurant openings, including relocations	1		—

In the first three months of 2024 and 2023, investing activities also included proceeds from insurance recoveries of $1.7 million and $1.1 million, respectively.

In the first three months of 2024, investing activities also included the purchase of one operating restaurant property to be sold in sale-leaseback transactions of $2.6 million and proceeds from sale of properties of $1.9 million.

Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities in the first three months of 2024 was $3.4 million and included a repurchase of treasury shares of $1.4 million, scheduled principal payments of $1.1 million of outstanding term B loans under our Senior Credit Facilities, and principal payments on finance leases of $0.9 million.

Net cash used in financing activities in the first three months of 2023 was $14.6 million and included repayment of $12.5 million of net revolving credit borrowings under our Senior Credit Facilities, principal payments of $1.1 million on the Term Loan B Facility and principal payments on finance leases of $0.8 million.

Senior Notes due 2029. On June 28, 2021, we issued $300.0 million principal amount of the Notes in a private placement as described above under "—Recent and Future Events Affecting our Results of Operations-Issuance of Notes and Amendments to our Senior Credit Facilities".

Senior Credit Facilities. As described above under "—Recent and Future Events Affecting Our Results of Operations—Issuance of Notes and Amendments to our Senior Credit Facilities", we entered into the Senior Credit Facilities and subsequent amendments to the Senior Credit Facilities.

Our obligations under the Senior Credit Facilities are guaranteed by our subsidiaries and are secured by first priority liens on substantially all of our assets, including a pledge of all of the capital stock and equity interests of our subsidiaries. Under the Senior Credit Facilities, we are required to make mandatory prepayments of borrowings following dispositions of assets, debt issuances and the receipt of insurance and condemnation proceeds (all subject to certain exceptions).

The Senior Credit Facilities contain certain covenants, including without limitation, those limiting our and our subsidiaries' ability to, among other things, incur indebtedness, incur liens, sell or acquire assets or businesses, change the character of its business in any material respect, engage in transactions with related parties, make certain investments, make certain restricted payments or pay dividends.

In addition, the Senior Credit Facilities require us to meet a First Lien Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) of not greater than 5.75 to 1.00 (as measured on a most recent four quarter basis) if, and only if, on the last day of any fiscal quarter, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding revolving credit borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and the aggregate face amount of letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility (excluding undrawn letters of credit in an aggregate face amount up to $12.0 million) exceeds 35% of the aggregate amount of the maximum revolving credit borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility.

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As of March 31, 2024, there were no revolving credit borrowings outstanding and $11.0 million of letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility. After reserving for issued letters of credit and outstanding revolving credit borrowings, $204.0 million was available for revolving credit borrowings at March 31, 2024 under the Revolving Credit Facility.

As there were no borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility (and only $11.0 million of outstanding letters of credit) at March 31, 2024, we did not exceed 35% of the aggregate borrowing capacity, therefore no First Lien Leverage Ratio calculation was required. However, if we had been subject to the First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Company's First Lien Leverage Ratio was 0.66x to 1.00 as of March 31, 2024 which was below the required First Lien Leverage Ratio of 5.75x to 1.00. As a result, we do not expect to have to reduce our term loan borrowings mandatorily with Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities). We were in compliance with the financial covenants under our Senior Credit Facilities at March 31, 2024.

The weighted average interest rate for borrowings on long-term debt balances were 5.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 5.8% for the three months ended April 2, 2023.

The Term Loan B borrowings are due and payable in quarterly installments which began on September 30, 2019. Amounts outstanding at March 31, 2024 are due and payable as follows:

(i) eight quarterly installments of $1.1 million;

(ii) one final payment of $123.5 million on April 30, 2026.

Interest Rate Swap. In March 2020, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement certain of our lenders under the Senior Credit Facilities to mitigate the risk of increases in the variable interest rate related to term loan borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities. The agreement matures on February 28, 2025. The interest rate swap originally fixed the interest rate on 50% of outstanding borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities at 0.915% plus the applicable margin in its Senior Credit Facilities with the differences settled monthly. The original notional amount of $220.0 million was reduced to $120.0 million in 2021 and the fixed rate of interest was changed in 2022 from 0.915% plus the applicable margin to 0.854% plus the applicable margin in connection with the transition from LIBOR to SOFR as the benchmark rate on our Senior Credit Facilities.

We received payments of $1.4 million and $1.1 million to settle the interest rate swap during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023, respectively.

The fair value of our interest rate swap agreement was an asset of $4.9 million as of March 31, 2024 and is included in long-term other assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the fair value of the cash flow hedges included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The amounts recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) will subsequently be reclassified to earnings as an increase or decrease to interest expense as realized through receipts or payments.

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A table of our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2023 was included in Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. There have been no significant changes to our contractual obligations during the three months ended March 31, 2024 other than as described under "—Recent and Future Events Affecting Our Results of Operations—Issuance of Notes and Amendments to our Senior Credit Facilities".

Inflation

The inflationary factors that have historically affected our results of operations include increases in food and paper costs, labor and other operating expenses, the cost of providing medical and prescription drug insurance to our employees and energy costs. Wages paid in our restaurants are impacted by changes in federal and state hourly minimum wage rates and the Fair Labor Standards Act. Accordingly, changes in the federal and state hourly minimum wage rates and increases in the wage level to not be considered an hourly employee will directly affect our labor costs.

We typically attempt to offset the effect of inflation, at least in part, through periodic menu price increases and various cost reduction programs. However, no assurance can be given that we will be able to offset such inflationary cost increases in the future.

Application of Critical Accounting Estimates

Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Preparing consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are affected by the application of our accounting policies. Our significant accounting policies are described in the "Significant Accounting Policies" footnote in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Critical accounting estimates are those that require application of management's most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in subsequent periods. There have been no material changes affecting our critical accounting policies or estimates previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

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Forward Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains statements which constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Statements that are predictive in nature or that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions are forward-looking statements. These statements are often identified by the words "may", "might", "will", "should", "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "hope", "plan" or similar expressions. In addition, expressions of our strategies, intentions or plans are also forward looking statements. These statements reflect management's current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their date. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond our control. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected or implied in the forward-looking statements. We have identified significant factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied in the forward-looking statements. We believe important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include the following, in addition to other risks and uncertainties discussed herein and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2023:

•The impact of health concerns such as the COVID-19 pandemic or reports of cases of food borne illnesses such as "mad cow" disease, and the possibility that consumers could lose confidence in the safety and quality of certain food products as well as negative publicity regarding food quality, illness, injury or other health concerns;

•Effectiveness of the Burger King and Popeyes advertising programs and the overall success of the Burger King and Popeyes brands;

•Increases in food costs and other commodity costs;

•Our ability to hire and retain employees at current or increased wage rates;

•Competitive conditions, including pricing pressures, discounting, aggressive marketing, the potential impact of competitors' new unit openings and promotions on sales of our restaurants, and competition impacting the cost and availability of labor;

•Uncertainties related to the consummation of the Merger;

•Our ability to complete the Merger, if at all, on the anticipated terms and timing, including obtaining the Requisite Stockholder Approval (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and regulatory approvals, and the satisfaction of other conditions to the completion of the Merger;

•Uncertainties about the pendency of the Merger and the effect of the Merger on employees, customers and other third parties who deal with the Company;

•The impact of certain interim covenants that we are subject to under the Merger Agreement;

•Provisions in the Merger Agreement that limit our ability to pursue alternatives to the Merger, which might discourage a third party that has an interest in acquiring all or a significant part of the Company from considering or proposing that acquisition;

•The fact that we and our directors and officers may be subject to lawsuits relating to the Merger;

•The substantial transaction-related costs we will continue to incur in connection with the Merger;

•Our efforts to complete the Merger could disrupt our relationships with third parties and employees, divert management’s attention, or result in negative publicity or legal proceedings;

•Regulatory factors;

•Environmental conditions and regulations;

•General economic conditions, particularly in the retail sector;

•Weather conditions;

•Fuel prices;

•Significant disruptions in service or supply by any of our suppliers or distributors;

•Changes in consumer perception of dietary health and food safety;

•Labor and employment benefit costs, including the effects of minimum wage increases, healthcare reform and changes in the Fair Labor Standards Act;

•The outcome of pending or future legal claims or proceedings;

•Our ability to manage our growth and successfully implement our business strategy;

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•Our ability to service our indebtedness;

•Our borrowing costs and credit ratings, which may be influenced by the credit ratings of our competitors;

•The availability and terms of necessary or desirable financing or refinancing and other related risks and uncertainties; and

•Factors that affect the restaurant industry generally, including recalls if products become adulterated or misbranded, liability if our products cause injury, ingredient disclosure and labeling laws and regulations.

ITEM 3—QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There were no material changes from the information presented in Item 7A included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 with respect to our market risk sensitive instruments.

A 1% change in interest rates would have resulted in no material change to interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and $0.2 million change to interest expense for the three months ended April 2, 2023.

ITEM 4—CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Our senior management is responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d – 15(e) under the Exchange Act), designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer's management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. We have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as well as other key members of our management. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2024.

Changes in Internal Control. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we did not make any changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We are a party to various litigation matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that the outcome of any of these other matters meet the disclosure or recognition standards, nor will they have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Part I - Item 1A of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 describes important risk factors that could materially affect our business, consolidated financial condition or results of operations or cause our operating results to differ materially from the indicated or cause our operating results to differ materially from those indicated or suggested by forward-looking statements made in this Form 10-Q or presented elsewhere by management from time to time.

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The table below reflects the shares of common stock we repurchased during the first quarter of 2024.


		Total Number of Shares Purchased (1)	Average Price Paid Per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
January	Purchased January 1, 2024 to February 4, 2024	161,871	$	8.42	—	$	10,983,543
February	Purchased February 5, 2024 to March 3, 2024	—	—		—	$	10,983,543
March	Purchased March 4, 2024 to March 31, 2024	6,821	$	9.47	—	$	10,983,543
	Total	168,692			—

(1) Represents shares withheld through net share settlements in order to meet individual tax withholding liability related to the vesting of restricted stock awards.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable

Item 5. Other Information

None

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Item 6. Exhibits

(a)The following exhibits are filed as part of this report.


Exhibit No.



10.1						Form of the First Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of April 22, 2024 among Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc., Carrols Corporation and Deborah M. Derby#+

31.1						Chief Executive Officer's Certificate Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc.
31.2						Chief Financial Officer's Certificate Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc.
32.1						Chief Executive Officer's Certificate Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc.
32.2						Chief Financial Officer's Certificate Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc.
101.INS						XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104						Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

# Filed herewith

+ Compensatory plan or arrangement

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



			CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

Date: May 9, 2024			/s/ Deborah M. Derby
			(Signature)
			Deborah M. Derby President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: May 9, 2024			/s/ Anthony E. Hull
			(Signature)
			Anthony E. Hull Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Deborah M. Derby, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2024 of Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.


Date: May 9, 2024						/s/ DEBORAH M. DERBY
						Deborah M. Derby Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Anthony E. Hull, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2024 of Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc.;

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.


Date: May 9, 2024						/s/ ANTHONY E. HULL
						Anthony E. Hull Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

The undersigned, Deborah M. Derby, Chief Executive Officer of Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. (the “Company”), hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Quarterly Report”), fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Quarterly Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.



/s/ DEBORAH M. DERBY
Deborah M. Derby
Chief Executive Officer

May 9, 2024

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

The undersigned, Anthony E. Hull, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. (the “Company”), hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(2) The information contained in the Quarterly Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.


/s/ ANTHONY E. HULL
Anthony E. Hull
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

May 9, 2024

Exhibit 10.1

FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “First Amendment”) is made as of April 22, 2024 by and among CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and CARROLS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Employer”), and DEBORAH M. DERBY (“Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive have entered into that certain Employment Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2023 (the “Employment Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend the Employment Agreement as set forth herein. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Employment Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, of the mutual promises contained herein and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree to amend the Employment Agreement as set forth herein:

1.Amendments to Employment Agreement.

a.The last sentence of Section 4.1 is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:

“Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive’s right to receive the Severance Payment and the Severance Bonus under this Section of the Agreement shall terminate, and the Executive shall be obligated to return to the Employer any payment or payments of the Severance Payment or the Severance Bonus previously made under this Section, if the Executive, directly or indirectly, commences employment with, or serves as an owner, operator, manager, director, partner, member or stockholder (other than as a stockholder of not more than two percent (2%) of any class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended) of, or consultant, advisor or independent contractor to, any business or organization that is a Competitor on or prior to the date that is the twenty-four (24) month anniversary of the Termination of employment.”

b.The first sentence of Section 5.1, is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:

“During Executive’s employment with the Employer and for a period of twenty-four (24) months thereafter, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, commence employment with, or serve as an owner, operator, manager, director, partner, member of stockholder (other than as a stockholder of not more than two percent (2%) of any class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of, or consultant, advisor or independent contractor to, any business or organization that is a Competitor within the United States.”

2.Miscellaneous.

(a) Except as expressly set forth herein, this First Amendment shall not alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, covenants, obligations or agreements contained in the Employment Agreement, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue to be in full force and effect.

(b) Facsimile transmission of any signed original document and/or retransmission of any signed facsimile transmission will be deemed the same as delivery of an original. This First Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(c) This First Amendment shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties to this First Amendment and their respective heirs, personal representatives, executors, successors and permitted assigns.

* * * * *

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this First Amendment to the Employment Agreement as of the date first written above.

EXECUTIVE:

____________________________________

Deborah M. Derby

CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.

By: ________________________________

Anthony E. Hull

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial

Officer and Treasurer

CARROLS CORPORATION

By: ________________________________

Anthony E. Hull

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial

Officer and Treasurer

Signature Page - First Amendment to Employment Agreement

Cover Page - shares	3 Months Ended
Cover Page - shares	Mar. 31, 2024	May 03, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2024
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-33174
Entity Registrant Name	CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	83-3804854
Entity Address, Address Line One	968 James Street
Entity Address, City or Town	Syracuse,
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	13203
City Area Code	315
Local Phone Number	424-0513
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
Trading Symbol	TAST
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		52,621,276
Entity Central Index Key	0000809248
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Small Business	true

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 38,030	$ 44,504
Trade and other receivables	25,033	22,438
Inventories	13,189	15,237
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	15,174	17,521
Total current assets	91,426	99,700
Property and equipment, net	308,959	307,526
Franchise rights, net	295,142	298,626
Goodwill	107,751	107,751
Franchise agreements, net	25,414	26,048
Operating leases	734,510	743,250
Other assets	9,160	9,591
Total assets	1,572,362	1,592,492
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease liabilities (Notes 6 and 7)	7,108	7,159
Current portion of operating lease liabilities (Note 6)	49,631	49,424
Accounts payable	37,713	37,797
Accrued interest	4,323	8,705
Accrued payroll, related taxes and benefits	36,984	63,787
Accrued real estate taxes	7,188	8,963
Other liabilities	49,426	29,120
Total current liabilities	192,373	204,955
Long-term debt and finance lease liabilities, net of current portion	420,346	421,788
Operating lease liabilities	750,183	758,115
Deferred income taxes, net	10,823	11,090
Other liabilities	10,597	11,311
Total liabilities	1,384,322	1,407,259
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $.01	0	0
Voting common stock, par value $.01	549	539
Additional paid-in capital	297,663	296,972
Accumulated deficit	(99,508)	(103,172)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	5,189	5,320
Treasury stock, at cost	(15,853)	(14,426)
Total stockholders' equity	188,040	185,233
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 1,572,362	$ 1,592,492

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Property and equipment, accumulated depreciation	$ 578,488	$ 570,062
Franchise rights, accumulated amortization	178,228	174,745
Franchise agreements, accumulated amortization	$ 19,975	$ 19,299
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	20,000,000	20,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	100	100
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	100	100
Voting common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Voting common stock, shares authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Voting common stock, shares issued	57,402,169	56,738,837
Common stock, shares, outstanding	52,479,387	51,602,340

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Apr. 02, 2023
Revenues:
Revenue	$ 452,192,000	$ 445,162,000
Costs and expenses:
Food, beverage and packaging costs	118,166,000	125,443,000
Restaurant wages and related expenses	150,785,000	146,324,000
Restaurant rent expense (Note 6)	32,025,000	31,834,000
Other restaurant operating expenses	74,037,000	69,132,000
Advertising expense	18,459,000	17,898,000
General and administrative expenses (including stock-based compensation of $1,989 and $1,097, respectively)	30,826,000	25,740,000
Depreciation and amortization	18,512,000	18,718,000
Impairment and other lease charges	1,356,000	1,340,000
Other income, net (Note 14)	(2,041,000)	(1,506,000)
Total operating expenses	442,125,000	434,923,000
Income from operations	10,067,000	10,239,000
Interest expense	6,413,000	8,233,000
Income before income taxes	3,654,000	2,006,000
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(10,000)	1,142,000
Net income	$ 3,664,000	$ 864,000
Basic net income (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.01
Diluted net income (loss) per share (in shares)	$ 0.06	$ 0.01
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	52,325,476	51,422,010
Shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per share (in shares)	64,221,877	61,420,034
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net income	$ 3,664,000	$ 864,000
Change in valuation of interest rate swap (Note 7)	(131,000)	(1,137,000)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 3,533,000	$ (273,000)

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Apr. 02, 2023
Stock-based compensation	$ 1,989	$ 1,097

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholder's Equity Statement - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]
Beginning balance (in shares) at Jan. 01, 2023		53,010,414	100				2,107,303
Beginning balance at Jan. 01, 2023	$ 150,842	$ 530	$ 0	$ 292,708	$ (136,968)	$ 8,702	$ (14,130)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation	1,097			1,097
Vesting of non-vested shares (in shares)		767,359
Vesting of non-vested shares and RSUs	0	$ 8		(8)
Net income (loss)	864				864
Repurchase of treasury stock (in shares)							144,434
Purchase of treasury stock	(295)						$ (295)
Change in valuation of interest rate swap	(1,137)					(1,137)
Ending balance (in shares) at Apr. 02, 2023		53,777,773	100				2,251,737
Ending balance at Apr. 02, 2023	$ 151,371	$ 538	$ 0	293,797	(136,104)	7,565	$ (14,425)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023	51,602,340	53,854,077	100				2,251,737
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2023	$ 185,233	$ 539	$ 0	296,972	(103,172)	5,320	$ (14,426)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation	1,989			1,989
Vesting of non-vested shares (in shares)		1,045,739
Vesting of non-vested shares and RSUs	0	$ 10		(10)
Net income (loss)	3,664				3,664
Repurchase of treasury stock (in shares)							168,692
Purchase of treasury stock	(1,427)						$ (1,427)
Cash dividend				(1,288)
Change in valuation of interest rate swap	$ (131)					(131)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2024	52,479,387	54,899,816	100				2,420,429
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2024	$ 188,040	$ 549	$ 0	$ 297,663	$ (99,508)	$ 5,189	$ (15,853)

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholder's Equity Parentheticals - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Apr. 02, 2023
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Other comprehensive income, tax	$ 45	$ 260
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	188,040	151,371
Purchase of treasury stock	$ (1,427)	$ (295)

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Apr. 02, 2023
Cash flows provided by operating activities:
Net income	$ 3,664	$ 864
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on disposals of property and equipment, including sale-leasebacks transactions	(1,429)	(1,521)
Stock-based compensation	1,989	1,097
Impairment and other lease charges	1,356	1,340
Depreciation and amortization	18,512	18,718
Amortization of deferred financing costs	512	543
Amortization of discount on debt	27	32
Deferred income taxes	(223)	1,142
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities	(12,071)	(14,222)
Net cash provided by operating activities	12,337	7,993
Cash flows used for investing activities:
New restaurant development	(2,582)	(858)
Restaurant remodeling	(6,461)	(2,035)
Other restaurant capital expenditures	(4,289)	(3,774)
Corporate and restaurant information systems	(3,058)	(1,322)
Total capital expenditures	(16,390)	(7,989)
Proceeds from sale of other assets	1,851	0
Properties purchased for sale-leaseback	2,573	0
Proceeds from insurance recoveries	1,726	1,126
Net cash used for investing activities	(15,386)	(6,863)
Cash flows used in financing activities:
Principal payments on Term B Loans	(1,063)	(1,063)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	0	11,000
Repayments under revolving credit facility	0	(23,500)
Principal payments on finance lease liabilities	(935)	(755)
Purchase of treasury shares	(1,427)	(295)
Net cash used in financing activities	(3,425)	(14,613)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(6,474)	(13,483)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	44,504	18,364
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	38,030	4,881
Supplemental disclosures:
Interest paid on long-term debt	10,184	12,137
Interest paid on lease financing obligations	0	0
Interest on lease liabilities	156	208
Accruals for capital expenditures	1,787	1,945
Finance lease obligations incurred	83	20
Gain on sale-leaseback transactions	0	822
Accruals for costs associated with issuance of long term debt	4,628	10,819
Operating cash flows related to operating leases	$ 25,983	$ 25,739

Basis Of Presentation (Notes)	3 Months Ended
Basis Of Presentation (Notes)	Mar. 31, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis Of Presentation	Business Description At March 31, 2024, Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. ("Carrols Restaurant Group") operated, as franchisee, 1,023 Burger King® restaurants in 23 Northeastern, Midwestern, Southcentral and Southeastern states and 59 Popeyes® restaurants in six Southeastern states. Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. is a holding company and conducts all of its operations through its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries Carrols Corporation and New CFH, LLC and their wholly-owned subsidiaries. Carrols Corporation's material direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries include its wholly-owned subsidiary Carrols LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. New CFH LLC's material direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries include Frayser Quality, LLC and Nashville Quality, LLC (and together with New CFH, LLC's immaterial direct and indirect subsidiaries, collectively, "New CFH"). Unless the context otherwise requires, Carrols Restaurant Group and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the "Company." Merger Agreement On January 16, 2024, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Restaurant Brands International Inc. ("RBI") and BK Cheshire Corp., a Delaware corporation and subsidiary of RBI (“Merger Sub”, and together with RBI, the “Buyer Parties”), providing for the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation (the “Merger”). A special transaction committee (the “Special Committee”) of independent and disinterested members of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) unanimously recommended that the Board approve and adopt the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and recommend that the stockholders of the Company adopt the Merger Agreement. Thereafter, the Board approved and adopted the Merger Agreement and resolved to recommend that the stockholders of the Company adopt the Merger Agreement. Subject to the terms and conditions and certain exceptions set forth in the Merger Agreement, each share of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”) will, at the Effective Time, automatically be converted into the right to receive $9.55 in cash, without interest, subject to any required tax withholding. If the Merger is consummated, the Company's common stock will be delisted from The NASDAQ Global Market and deregistered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as promptly as practicable following the Effective Time. The Merger is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024 subject to the conditions set forth below. Consummation of the Merger is subject to certain conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including, but not limited to, the: (A) affirmative vote of the holders of (i) a majority of all of the outstanding shares of Company capital stock to adopt the Merger Agreement and (ii) a majority of all of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock held by the Unaffiliated Company Stockholders (as defined in the Merger Agreement) to adopt the Merger Agreement; (B) expiration or termination of any waiting periods (and any extensions thereof) applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended; (C) absence of any law or order in the United States restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger; and (D) absence of a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement). The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for the Company, on the one hand, and the Buyer Parties, on the other hand. Upon termination of the Merger Agreement under specified circumstances, the Company will be required to pay RBI a termination fee of $19.0 million. In addition to the foregoing termination rights, and subject to certain limitations, the Company or RBI may terminate the Merger Agreement if the Merger is not consummated by November 30, 2024. On April 12, 2024, notice was given that a special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) of Carrols Restaurant Group will be held on May 14, 2024, to consider and vote on a proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and a proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation that will or may become payable by Carrols Restaurant Group to its named executive officers in connection with the Merger.

Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies	Mar. 31, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies	Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Consolidation. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Fiscal Year. The Company uses a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the Sunday closest to December 31. The three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 each contained thirteen weeks. The 2024 fiscal year will end December 29, 2024 and will contain 52 weeks. Basis of Presentation. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 have been prepared without an audit pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not include certain of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of such unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been included. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The December 31, 2023 consolidated balance sheet data is derived from those audited consolidated financial statements. Use of Estimates. The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant items subject to such estimates include accrued occupancy costs, insurance liabilities, lease accounting matters, the valuation of acquired assets and liabilities, interest rate swap valuation, the valuation of deferred income tax assets and liabilities, and the evaluation for impairment of goodwill, long-lived assets and franchise rights. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Segment Information. Operating segments are components of an entity for which discrete financial information is available and is regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in order to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company's chief operating decision-maker, our President and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), currently evaluates the Company's operations from a number of different operational perspectives; however, resource allocation decisions are determined based on the chief operating decision-maker's evaluation of the total Company operations. The Company derives all significant revenues from a single operating segment, its restaurant business. Accordingly, the Company views the operating results of its restaurants as one reportable segment. Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company had $26.3 million of cash invested in money market funds classified as cash equivalents on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2024. At December 31, 2023, the Company had $5.5 million of cash invested in money market funds classified as cash equivalents on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Food, Beverage and Packaging Costs. The Company includes food, beverage and packaging costs and delivery charges, net of any vendor purchase discounts and rebates, in food, beverage, and packaging costs. Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. In determining fair value, the accounting standards establish a three-level hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2 inputs are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; and Level 3 inputs are unobservable and reflect the Company's own assumptions. Financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, accounts payable and long-term debt. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these financial instruments. Borrowings under the Company's Senior Credit Facilities (including its term B loans) accrue interest at a floating rate tied to a standard short-term borrowing index selected at the Company's option, plus an applicable margin. The Company's liability for its Senior Credit Facilities and 5.875% Senior Notes due 2029 are carried at historical cost in the accompanying balance sheets. The fair value of our term B loans and 5.875% Senior Notes due 2029 is based on recent trading activity, which are Level 2 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. As of March 31, 2024, the term B loans traded at 100.0% of par value and the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2029 traded at 101.3% of par value. The Company recognizes its derivative arrangements on the balance sheet at fair value, which is considered a Level 2 input. The Company's only derivative is an interest rate swap (the "Swap") which is designated as a cash flow hedge. Accordingly, the entire change in the fair value of the cash flow hedges included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. Any ineffective portion of the changes in the fair value of this arrangement is immediately recognized in earnings as interest expense, as applicable. The Company classifies cash inflows and outflows from derivatives within operating activities on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The Swap had an asset value of $4.9 million and $5.1 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, and is classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Fair value measurements of non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities are primarily used in the impairment analysis of long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets. Long-lived assets and definite-lived intangible assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis using Level 3 inputs. As described in Note 4, the Company recorded long-lived asset impairment charges of $1.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and $0.1 million during the three months ended April 2, 2023. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Other Lease Charges. The Company reviews its long-lived assets, principally property and equipment, for impairment at the restaurant level. If an indicator of impairment exists for any of its assets, an estimate of the undiscounted future cash flows over the life of the primary asset for each restaurant is compared to that long-lived asset's carrying value. If the carrying value is greater than the undiscounted cash flow, the Company then determines the fair value of the asset and if an asset is determined to be impaired, the loss is measured by the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its fair value. For closed restaurant locations, the Company reviews the future minimum lease payments and related ancillary costs from the date of the restaurant closure to the end of the remaining lease term and records a lease charge for any right-of-use ("ROU") lease asset impairment or lease-related costs during the remaining term, net of any estimated sublease recoveries. The Company determined the fair value of restaurant equipment, for those restaurants reviewed for impairment, based on current economic conditions. The Company determines the fair value of ROU lease assets based on an assessment of market rents and a discounted future cash flow model. The Company re-evaluates the ROU lease asset at the time the restaurant is no longer determined to be usable to the Company, which is generally when the restaurant is closed. These fair value asset measurements rely on significant unobservable inputs and are considered Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The amendments in this update require disclosure of incremental segment information and the title and position of the chief operating decision maker ("CODM"). The Company will be required to disclose significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the CODM, as well as additional information on segment profit and loss measures and how such information is used by the CODM to assess segment performance and allocate resources. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, on a retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its disclosures. In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The amendments in this update require enhanced income tax disclosures, particularly related to a reporting entity's effective tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. For the rate reconciliation table, the update requires additional categories of information about federal, state, and foreign taxes and details about significant reconciling items, subject to a quantitative threshold. Income taxes paid must be similarly disaggregated by federal, state, and foreign based on a quantitative threshold. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The guidance shall be applied on a prospective basis with the option to apply retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its disclosures. Subsequent Events. The Company reviewed and evaluated subsequent events through the issuance date of the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Intangible Assets (Notes)	3 Months Ended
Intangible Assets (Notes)	Mar. 31, 2024
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Intangible Assets	Intangible Assets Franchise Rights. Amounts allocated to franchise rights for each acquisition of Burger King and Popeyes restaurants are amortized using the straight-line method over the average remaining term of the acquired franchise agreements plus one twenty-year renewal period. The Company assesses the potential impairment of franchise rights whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable, including as a result of closures of restaurants that were part of an acquisition, a shortfall in undiscounted operating cash flows over the projected remaining life of the franchise rights to the carrying value of such franchise rights for each acquisition group, or other indicators of impairment. If an indicator of impairment exists, an estimate of the aggregate undiscounted cash flows from the acquired restaurants is compared to the respective carrying value of franchise rights for each acquisition. If an asset is determined to be impaired, the loss is measured by the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its fair value. No impairment charges were recorded related to the Company's franchise rights for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023. The change in franchise rights for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was from amortization expense during the period. Amortization expense related to franchise rights was $3.5 million for both of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023. The Company expects amortization expense to be $13.9 million annually for fiscal 2024 through fiscal 2029. Goodwill. The Company is required to review goodwill for impairment annually, or more frequently when events and circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may be impaired. If the determined fair value of the reporting unit is less than the related carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized. The Company performs its annual impairment assessment as of the end of the eighth month of its fiscal year. As part of this goodwill impairment assessment, the Company considers certain qualitative factors, such as the Company's performance, business forecasts and expansion plans, a discount rate approximating the Company's weighted average cost of capital, general economic conditions, and evaluation of peer company multiples, among other factors including external indicators of value. Given the nature of the qualitative and quantitative factors considered, there is a degree of uncertainty associated with these judgments and estimates. Notably, the business forecasts and market conditions considered within the Company's annual goodwill impairment test reflect the Company's long-standing history of operating Burger King restaurants in various business cycles. The Company assessed events and circumstances from the date of its annual goodwill impairment test through March 31, 2024 and there was no indicator representing a triggering event, nor was any goodwill-related impairment recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023.

Impairment Of Long-Lived Assets And Other Lease Charges (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024
Asset Impairment Charges [Abstract]
Asset Impairment Charges [Text Block]	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Other Lease Charges During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company recorded impairment and other lease charges of $1.4 million consisting of $0.7 million related to initial impairment charges for four underperforming restaurants, capital expenditures at previously impaired restaurants of $0.3 million and $0.4 million of other lease charges primarily related to one planned restaurant closure. During the three months ended April 2, 2023, the Company recorded impairment and other lease charges of $1.3 million consisting of capital expenditures at previously impaired restaurants of $0.1 million and $1.2 million of other lease charges related to three restaurant closed during the first quarter.

Other Liabilities, Long-Term (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Other Liabilities, Noncurrent [Abstract]

Other Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block]

Other Liabilities

Other liabilities, current, at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 consisted of the following:


	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Accrued unearned income	$	12,477	$	511
Accrued workers' compensation and general liability claims	6,569		4,855
Accrued professional fees	5,546		654
Sales tax payable	7,405		7,333
Other	17,429		15,767
	$	49,426	$	29,120

Other liabilities, long-term, at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 consisted of the following:


	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Accrued occupancy costs	$	1,703	$	1,766
Accrued workers' compensation and general liability claims	3,732		3,994

Deferred compensation	2,970		3,162

Accrued post retirement benefits	1,236		1,249
Other	956		1,140
	$	10,597	$	11,311

Leases

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Leases [Abstract]

Leases

Lease Cost

The components and classification of lease expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 are as follows:


		Three Months Ended
Lease cost	Classification	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Operating lease cost(1)	Restaurant rent expense	$	28,547	$	26,363
Operating lease cost(2)	General and administrative	350		305
Variable lease cost	Restaurant rent expense	3,478		5,471

Finance lease cost:
Amortization of right-of-use assets	Depreciation and amortization	801		825
Interest on lease liabilities	Interest expense	156		208
Total lease cost		$	33,332	$	33,172

(1)Includes short-term leases which are not material.

(2)Represents operating lease costs for property and equipment not directly related to restaurant operations.

Leases

Lease Cost

The components and classification of lease expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 are as follows:


		Three Months Ended
Lease cost	Classification	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Operating lease cost(1)	Restaurant rent expense	$	28,547	$	26,363
Operating lease cost(2)	General and administrative	350		305
Variable lease cost	Restaurant rent expense	3,478		5,471

Finance lease cost:
Amortization of right-of-use assets	Depreciation and amortization	801		825
Interest on lease liabilities	Interest expense	156		208
Total lease cost		$	33,332	$	33,172

(1)Includes short-term leases which are not material.

(2)Represents operating lease costs for property and equipment not directly related to restaurant operations.

Long-Term Debt (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Long-Term Debt, Unclassified [Abstract]

Long-Term Debt

Long-term Debt

Long-term debt at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 consisted of the following:


	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023

Senior Credit Facility:
Term B Loans	$	132,313	$	133,375
Revolving credit borrowings	—		—
Senior Notes Due 2029	290,093		290,093
Finance lease liabilities	9,054		9,752
Total Funded debt	431,460		433,220
Less: current portion of long-term debt and finance lease liabilities	(7,108)		(7,159)
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs	(3,770)		(4,010)
Less: unamortized original issue discount	(236)		(263)
Total Long-term debt	$	420,346	$	421,788

(i) eight remaining quarterly installments of $1.1 million;

(ii) one final payment of $123.5 million on April 30, 2026.

Senior Notes due 2029. On June 28, 2021, the Company issued $300.0 million principal amount of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2029 (the "Notes") in a private placement.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company repurchased $9.9 million of its outstanding Notes in the open market.

The Company received $1.4 million and $1.1 million to settle the interest rate swap during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023, respectively.

Income Taxes (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 was comprised of the following:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Current	$	213	$	—
Deferred	(98)		2,473
Change in valuation allowance	(125)		(1,331)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	$	(10)	$	1,142

Stock-Based Compensation (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 was $2.0 million and $1.1 million, respectively.

A summary of all non-vested common share activity for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was as follows:


	Shares	Weighted Average Grant Date Price(1)
Non-vested at December 31, 2023	2,734,760	$	2.84
Granted	645,809	$	8.42
Vested	(1,028,216)	$	3.07
Forfeited	—	$	—
Non-vested at March 31, 2024	2,352,353	$	4.27

(1) The fair value of time-vested shares is based on the closing price on the date of grant.

The following is a summary of all stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2024:


	Options	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value(1)
Options outstanding at December 31, 2023	925,000	$	7.12


Forfeited	—
Options Outstanding at March 31, 2024	925,000	$	7.12	3.4	$	2,211
Vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2024	925,000	$	7.12	3.4	$	2,211
Options exercisable at March 31, 2024	925,000	$	7.12	3.4	$	2,211

Restricted Stock Units. The Company has issued restricted stock units ("RSUs") on shares of the Company's common shares to certain officers of the Company.

The following is a summary of all RSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2024:


			Units
Non-vested at December 31, 2023			17,523

Vested			(17,523)

Non-vested at March 31, 2024			—

Commitments And Contingencies (Notes)	3 Months Ended
Commitments And Contingencies (Notes)	Mar. 31, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	Commitments and Contingencies Lease Guarantees. Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. ("Fiesta"), a former wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was spun-off in 2012 to the Company's stockholders. As of March 31, 2024, the Company is a guarantor under 17 leases from the time when Fiesta was its subsidiary, which have lease terms expiring on various dates through 2030. As of March 31, 2024, the guarantees include eight Fiesta restaurant property leases and nine Taco Cabana leases of which all but one Fiesta-owned restaurant is still operating. Eight of these guarantees are for leases with Pollo Operations, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fiesta, and nine of the guarantees are for leases with Texas Taco Cabana, L.P., an indirect subsidiary of Taco Cabana, Inc. (together with all direct and indirect subsidiaries, "Taco"). Taco was a wholly owned subsidiary of Fiesta until August 16, 2021 when Fiesta sold all of its outstanding capital stock of Taco Cabana, Inc. to YTC Enterprises, LLC, an affiliate of Yadav Enterprises, Inc. The Company is fully liable for all obligations under the terms of the leases in the event that a tenant fails to pay any sums due under the lease, subject to indemnification provisions of the Separation and Distribution Agreement entered into in connection with the spin-off of Fiesta. In October of 2023, Fiesta was acquired by affiliates of Garnett Station Partners ("GSP"). Matthew Perelman and Alexander Sloane, each a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, are affiliates of GSP and affiliates of Cambridge Franchise Holdings, LLC which owns approximately 16.2% of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock. The maximum potential amount of future undiscounted rental payments the Company could be required to make under these leases at March 31, 2024 was $7.6 million, of which $4.8 million pertains to Fiesta restaurant property leases and $2.8 million pertains to Taco restaurant property leases. The obligations under these leases will generally continue to decrease over time as these operating leases expire, except for any execution of renewal options that exist under the original leases. No payments related to these guarantees have been made by the Company to date and none are expected to be required to be made in the future. The Company has not recorded a liability for these guarantees in accordance with ASC 460 - Guarantees as Fiesta has indemnified the Company for all such obligations and the Company did not believe it was probable it would be required to perform under any of the guarantees or direct obligations. Litigation. The Company is party to various litigation matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company does not believe that the outcome of any of these matters will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial statements. As of the date of this Current Report on Form 10-Q, four lawsuits have been filed in federal and state court by purported stockholders against the Company and members of the Board (collectively, the “Actions”) relating to the Merger. The Actions, in the order by which they were filed, are: (i) Andrew Sasser v. Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc., et al., No. 1:24-cv-01869 (S.D.N.Y.), filed on March 12, 2024, (ii) Robert Lacoff v. Thomas Curtis et al., No. 60999/2024 (N.Y.S.), filed on April 23, 2024, (iii) Kevin Walsh v. Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. et al., No. 004258/2024 (N.Y.S.), filed on April 23, 2024 and (iv) Mary Philips v. Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. et al., No. 004336/2024 (N.Y.S.), filed on April 24, 2024. The Sasser Action, alleges, among other things, that the Company and the Board filed or caused to be filed a materially false and misleading preliminary proxy statement with the SEC in violation of Section 14(a) and Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14a-9 promulgated thereunder. The Lacoff, Walsh and Philips Actions generally allege state law claims for breach of fiduciary duty, failure to disclose and aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty. Certain of the Actions seek, among other things, an injunction enjoining the stockholder vote at the Special Meeting or consummation of the Merger, rescission of the Merger in the event the Merger is consummated or awarding of rescissory damages, an order for the directors of the Company to exercise their fiduciary duties to disseminate a preliminary proxy statement that is not materially false or misleading and an award of costs, including reasonable attorneys’ and experts’ fees. Although the Company believes that the claims in the Actions are wholly without merit and that no further disclosure is required under applicable law to supplement the proxy statement filed by the Company in connection with the Merger, the Company filed a supplement to the proxy statement on May 6, 2024 addressing alleged disclosure claims in order to eliminate the burden, expense and uncertainties inherent in such litigation, without admitting any liability or wrongdoing. On May 6, 2024, the plaintiff in the Lacoff Action (the sole Action that had sought an injunction enjoining the stockholder vote regarding the Merger) withdrew the motion for a preliminary injunction. Supplier Concentrations. The Company primarily utilizes four distributors, McLane Company Inc., Lineage Foodservice Solutions, LLC, Reinhart Food Service LLC and Performance Foodservice, to supply its Burger King restaurants with the majority of its foodstuffs. As of March 31, 2024, such distributors supplied 30%, 31%, 29% and 10%, respectively, of the Company's Burger King restaurants. Additionally, one bakery company supplies the rolls used in approximately 50% of the Company's Burger King restaurants and a second bakery company supplies rolls for another approximately 26% of the Company's Burger King restaurants. The Company utilizes three distributors for its Popeyes restaurants. All three distributors provide poultry products and two provide all other products. For the Company's Popeyes restaurants, one distributor, Performance Foodservice, is the poultry product supplier for 86% of its restaurants and the non-poultry products supplier for 95% of its restaurants. Advisory Fees. The Company has agreed to pay Jefferies LLC ("Jefferies") for its financial advisory services to the Special Committee in connection with the Merger an aggregate fee based upon a percentage of the transaction value of the Merger which is estimated to be approximately $12.3 million, of which $2.0 million was payable as of March 31, 2024. The remainder of this fee is payable to Jefferies contingent upon the closing of the Merger. In addition, Carrols agreed to reimburse Jefferies for expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel, incurred in connection with Jefferies’ engagement and to indemnify Jefferies and related parties against liabilities, including liabilities under federal securities laws, arising out of or in connection with the services rendered and to be rendered by Jefferies under its engagement.

Stockholders' Equity	3 Months Ended
Stockholders' Equity	Mar. 31, 2024
Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity	Stockholders' Equity Stock Repurchase Program. On August 2, 2019, the Company's Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase plan ("Repurchase Program") under which the Company may repurchase up to $25 million of its outstanding common stock. The authorization became effective August 2, 2019. In August 2023, the Company's Board of Directors approved an extension of the Company's Repurchase Program with approximately $11.0 million of its original $25 million in capacity remaining. The authorization will expire on August 2, 2025, unless terminated earlier by the Board of Directors. Purchases under the Repurchase Program may be made from time to time in open market transactions at prevailing market prices or in privately negotiated transactions (including, without limitation, the use of Rule 10b5-1 plans) in compliance with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act. The Company has no obligation to repurchase stock under the Repurchase Program, and the timing, actual number and value of shares purchased will depend on the Company's stock price, trading volume, general market and economic conditions, and other factors. At March 31, 2024, $11.0 million was available to repurchase shares under the Repurchase Program. Shares repurchased are being held in treasury until they are retired at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Cash Dividend. Effective February 22, 2024, the Company's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.02 per share on all issued and outstanding shares of the Company's common stock, including common stock issuable on the conversion of our Series D Convertible Preferred Stock. The cash dividend totaling of $1.3 million was paid on April 5, 2024 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 11, 2024 and was included in other current liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2024.

Net Loss Per Share (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Net Income (Loss) Per Share

Net Income per Share

The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted net income per share:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Basic net income per share:
Net income	$	3,664	$	864
Less: Income attributable to non-vested shares	(193)		(129)
Less: Income attributable to preferred stock	(529)		(31)
Net income available to common stockholders	$	2,942	$	704
Weighted average common shares outstanding	52,325,476		51,422,010
Basic net income per share (1)	$	0.06	$	0.01
Diluted net income per share:
Net income	$	3,664	$	864
Shares used in computing basic net income per share	52,325,476		51,422,010
Dilutive effect of preferred stock and non-vested shares	11,896,401		9,998,024
Shares used in computing diluted net income per share	64,221,877		61,420,034
Diluted net income per share (1)	$	0.06	$	0.01

Other Expense (Income) (Notes)	3 Months Ended
Other Expense (Income) (Notes)	Mar. 31, 2024
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
Other Expense (Income)	Other Income, net The three months ended March 31, 2024 included other income, net, of $2.0 million, which was comprised of net gains from insurance recoveries of $1.5 million, a gain from condemnation of a property of $0.7 million and a loss on disposal of assets of $0.2 million. The three months ended April 2, 2023 included other income, net, of $1.5 million, which was comprised of net gains from insurance recoveries of $0.9 million, a gain of $0.8 million from the derecognition of a lease financing obligation associated with a prior sale leaseback transaction and a loss on disposal of assets of $0.2 million.

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Mar. 31, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Basis of Consolidation. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Fiscal Period, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Fiscal Year. The Company uses a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the Sunday closest to December 31. The three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 each contained thirteen weeks. The 2024 fiscal year will end December 29, 2024 and will contain 52 weeks.
Basis of Presentation, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Basis of Presentation. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 have been prepared without an audit pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not include certain of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of such unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been included. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The December 31, 2023 consolidated balance sheet data is derived from those audited consolidated financial statements.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Use of Estimates. The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant items subject to such estimates include accrued occupancy costs, insurance liabilities, lease accounting matters, the valuation of acquired assets and liabilities, interest rate swap valuation, the valuation of deferred income tax assets and liabilities, and the evaluation for impairment of goodwill, long-lived assets and franchise rights. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Segment Information. Operating segments are components of an entity for which discrete financial information is available and is regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in order to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company's chief operating decision-maker, our President and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), currently evaluates the Company's operations from a number of different operational perspectives; however, resource allocation decisions are determined based on the chief operating decision-maker's evaluation of the total Company operations. The Company derives all significant revenues from a single operating segment, its restaurant business. Accordingly, the Company views the operating results of its restaurants as one reportable segment.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company had $26.3 million of cash invested in money market funds classified as cash equivalents on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2024. At December 31, 2023, the Company had $5.5 million of cash invested in money market funds classified as cash equivalents on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Food, Beverage And Packaging Costs	Food, Beverage and Packaging Costs. The Company includes food, beverage and packaging costs and delivery charges, net of any vendor purchase discounts and rebates, in food, beverage, and packaging costs.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. In determining fair value, the accounting standards establish a three-level hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2 inputs are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; and Level 3 inputs are unobservable and reflect the Company's own assumptions. Financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, accounts payable and long-term debt. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these financial instruments. Borrowings under the Company's Senior Credit Facilities (including its term B loans) accrue interest at a floating rate tied to a standard short-term borrowing index selected at the Company's option, plus an applicable margin. The Company's liability for its Senior Credit Facilities and 5.875% Senior Notes due 2029 are carried at historical cost in the accompanying balance sheets. The fair value of our term B loans and 5.875% Senior Notes due 2029 is based on recent trading activity, which are Level 2 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. As of March 31, 2024, the term B loans traded at 100.0% of par value and the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2029 traded at 101.3% of par value. The Company recognizes its derivative arrangements on the balance sheet at fair value, which is considered a Level 2 input. The Company's only derivative is an interest rate swap (the "Swap") which is designated as a cash flow hedge. Accordingly, the entire change in the fair value of the cash flow hedges included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. Any ineffective portion of the changes in the fair value of this arrangement is immediately recognized in earnings as interest expense, as applicable. The Company classifies cash inflows and outflows from derivatives within operating activities on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The Swap had an asset value of $4.9 million and $5.1 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, and is classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Fair value measurements of non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities are primarily used in the impairment analysis of long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets. Long-lived assets and definite-lived intangible assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis using Level 3 inputs. As described in Note 4, the Company recorded long-lived asset impairment charges of $1.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and $0.1 million during the three months ended April 2, 2023. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Other Lease Charges. The Company reviews its long-lived assets, principally property and equipment, for impairment at the restaurant level. If an indicator of impairment exists for any of its assets, an estimate of the undiscounted future cash flows over the life of the primary asset for each restaurant is compared to that long-lived asset's carrying value. If the carrying value is greater than the undiscounted cash flow, the Company then determines the fair value of the asset and if an asset is determined to be impaired, the loss is measured by the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its fair value. For closed restaurant locations, the Company reviews the future minimum lease payments and related ancillary costs from the date of the restaurant closure to the end of the remaining lease term and records a lease charge for any right-of-use ("ROU") lease asset impairment or lease-related costs during the remaining term, net of any estimated sublease recoveries. The Company determined the fair value of restaurant equipment, for those restaurants reviewed for impairment, based on current economic conditions. The Company determines the fair value of ROU lease assets based on an assessment of market rents and a discounted future cash flow model. The Company re-evaluates the ROU lease asset at the time the restaurant is no longer determined to be usable to the Company, which is generally when the restaurant is closed. These fair value asset measurements rely on significant unobservable inputs and are considered Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The amendments in this update require disclosure of incremental segment information and the title and position of the chief operating decision maker ("CODM"). The Company will be required to disclose significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the CODM, as well as additional information on segment profit and loss measures and how such information is used by the CODM to assess segment performance and allocate resources. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, on a retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its disclosures. In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The amendments in this update require enhanced income tax disclosures, particularly related to a reporting entity's effective tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. For the rate reconciliation table, the update requires additional categories of information about federal, state, and foreign taxes and details about significant reconciling items, subject to a quantitative threshold. Income taxes paid must be similarly disaggregated by federal, state, and foreign based on a quantitative threshold. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The guidance shall be applied on a prospective basis with the option to apply retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its disclosures.
Subsequent Events, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Subsequent Events. The Company reviewed and evaluated subsequent events through the issuance date of the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Intangible Assets (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Intangible Assets (Policies)	Mar. 31, 2024
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Franchise Rights. Amounts allocated to franchise rights for each acquisition of Burger King and Popeyes restaurants are amortized using the straight-line method over the average remaining term of the acquired franchise agreements plus one twenty-year renewal period. The Company assesses the potential impairment of franchise rights whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable, including as a result of closures of restaurants that were part of an acquisition, a shortfall in undiscounted operating cash flows over the projected remaining life of the franchise rights to the carrying value of such franchise rights for each acquisition group, or other indicators of impairment. If an indicator of impairment exists, an estimate of the aggregate undiscounted cash flows from the acquired restaurants is compared to the respective carrying value of franchise rights for each acquisition. If an asset is determined to be impaired, the loss is measured by the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its fair value.

Net Loss Per Share (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Net Loss Per Share (Policies)	Mar. 31, 2024
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]	The Company applies the two-class method to calculate and present net income per share. The Company's non-vested restricted share awards and Series D Convertible Preferred Stock held by the BKC Stockholders contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends and are considered participating securities for purposes of computing net income per share pursuant to the two-class method. Under the two-class method, net earnings are reduced by the amount of dividends declared (whether paid or unpaid) and the remaining undistributed earnings are then allocated to common stock and participating securities, based on their respective rights to receive dividends. Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the reporting period. Diluted net income per share reflects additional shares of common stock outstanding, where applicable, calculated using the treasury stock method or the two-class method.

Other Liabilities, Long-Term (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Other Liabilities, Noncurrent [Abstract]

Summary of Other Liabilities, Current

Other liabilities, current, at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 consisted of the following:


	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Accrued unearned income	$	12,477	$	511
Accrued workers' compensation and general liability claims	6,569		4,855
Accrued professional fees	5,546		654
Sales tax payable	7,405		7,333
Other	17,429		15,767
	$	49,426	$	29,120

Schedule of Other Assets and Other Liabilities [Table Text Block]

Other liabilities, long-term, at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 consisted of the following:


	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Accrued occupancy costs	$	1,703	$	1,766
Accrued workers' compensation and general liability claims	3,732		3,994

Deferred compensation	2,970		3,162

Accrued post retirement benefits	1,236		1,249
Other	956		1,140
	$	10,597	$	11,311

Leases (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Leases [Abstract]

Lease, Cost [Table Text Block]

The components and classification of lease expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 are as follows:


		Three Months Ended
Lease cost	Classification	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Operating lease cost(1)	Restaurant rent expense	$	28,547	$	26,363
Operating lease cost(2)	General and administrative	350		305
Variable lease cost	Restaurant rent expense	3,478		5,471

Finance lease cost:
Amortization of right-of-use assets	Depreciation and amortization	801		825
Interest on lease liabilities	Interest expense	156		208
Total lease cost		$	33,332	$	33,172

(1)Includes short-term leases which are not material.

(2)Represents operating lease costs for property and equipment not directly related to restaurant operations.

Long-Term Debt (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Long-Term Debt, Unclassified [Abstract]

Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]

Long-term debt at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 consisted of the following:


	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023

Senior Credit Facility:
Term B Loans	$	132,313	$	133,375
Revolving credit borrowings	—		—
Senior Notes Due 2029	290,093		290,093
Finance lease liabilities	9,054		9,752
Total Funded debt	431,460		433,220
Less: current portion of long-term debt and finance lease liabilities	(7,108)		(7,159)
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs	(3,770)		(4,010)
Less: unamortized original issue discount	(236)		(263)
Total Long-term debt	$	420,346	$	421,788

Income Taxes (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 was comprised of the following:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Current	$	213	$	—
Deferred	(98)		2,473
Change in valuation allowance	(125)		(1,331)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	$	(10)	$	1,142

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Summary of Nonvested Share Activity [Table Text Block]

A summary of all non-vested common share activity for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was as follows:


	Shares	Weighted Average Grant Date Price(1)
Non-vested at December 31, 2023	2,734,760	$	2.84
Granted	645,809	$	8.42
Vested	(1,028,216)	$	3.07
Forfeited	—	$	—
Non-vested at March 31, 2024	2,352,353	$	4.27

Share-based Payment Arrangement, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit, Activity [Table Text Block]

The following is a summary of all RSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2024:


			Units
Non-vested at December 31, 2023			17,523

Vested			(17,523)

Non-vested at March 31, 2024			—

Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Activity

The following is a summary of all stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2024:


	Options	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value(1)
Options outstanding at December 31, 2023	925,000	$	7.12


Forfeited	—
Options Outstanding at March 31, 2024	925,000	$	7.12	3.4	$	2,211
Vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2024	925,000	$	7.12	3.4	$	2,211
Options exercisable at March 31, 2024	925,000	$	7.12	3.4	$	2,211

Net Loss Per Share (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]

The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted net income per share:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Basic net income per share:
Net income	$	3,664	$	864
Less: Income attributable to non-vested shares	(193)		(129)
Less: Income attributable to preferred stock	(529)		(31)
Net income available to common stockholders	$	2,942	$	704
Weighted average common shares outstanding	52,325,476		51,422,010
Basic net income per share (1)	$	0.06	$	0.01
Diluted net income per share:
Net income	$	3,664	$	864
Shares used in computing basic net income per share	52,325,476		51,422,010
Dilutive effect of preferred stock and non-vested shares	11,896,401		9,998,024
Shares used in computing diluted net income per share	64,221,877		61,420,034
Diluted net income per share (1)	$	0.06	$	0.01

Basis Of Presentation (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2024 restaurant $ / shares	Jan. 16, 2024 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2023 $ / shares
Entity Information [Line Items]
Number of restaurants \| restaurant	227
Par value (dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Share conversion price (in dollars per share)		$ 9.55
Termination fee \| $		$ 19.0
Burger King Corporate [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	1,023
Number of States in which Entity Operates	23
Popeyes [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	59
Number of States in which Entity Operates	6

Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($)	Apr. 02, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges	$ 1,000	$ 100
Money Market Funds, at Carrying Value	26,300		$ 5,500
Accrued Interest Rate Swap, Noncurrent, Fair Value	$ 4,900		$ 5,100
Senior Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans traded, portion of par value, percentage	1.013
Senior Loans \| Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, rate	5.875%
Term Loan B Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans traded, portion of par value, percentage	100.0

Intangible Assets (Details)	3 Months Ended
Intangible Assets (Details)	Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($) period	Apr. 02, 2023 USD ($)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Franchise agreement, number of renewal periods \| period	1
Franchise agreement, term	20 years
Amortization of intangible assets, franchise rights	$ 3,500,000
Franchise Rights [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Impairment of intangible assets (excluding goodwill)	0	$ 0
Second Fiscal Year	13,900,000
Next fiscal year	13,900,000
Fourth Fiscal Year	13,900,000
Fifth Fiscal Year	13,900,000
Third Fiscal Year	$ 13,900,000

Impairment Of Long-Lived Assets And Other Lease Charges (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($) restaurant	Apr. 02, 2023 USD ($) restaurant
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment and other lease charges	$ 1,356	$ 1,340
Asset impairment charges	1,000	100
Other Asset Impairment Charges	$ 700	$ 1,200
Closed Restaurants
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Number of restaurants closed \| restaurant		3
Initial Impairment Charge [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges		$ 100
Underperforming Restaurants [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Number of restaurants closed \| restaurant	4
Planned Closure
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Number of restaurants closed \| restaurant	1
Capital Expenditures At Underperforming Restaurants [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges	$ 300
Other Lease Charges [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges	$ 400

Other Liabilities, Long-Term - Summary of Other Liabilities, Current (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Accrued unearned income	$ 12,477	$ 511
Accrued workers' compensation and general liability claims	6,569	4,855
Accrued professional fees	5,546	654
Sales tax payable	7,405	7,333
Other	17,429	15,767
Other liabilities	$ 49,426	$ 29,120

Other Liabilities, Long-Term (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent [Abstract]
Accrued occupancy costs	$ 1,703	$ 1,766
Accrued workers' compensation and general liability claims	3,732	3,994
Deferred compensation	2,970	3,162
Total long-term lease liabilities	1,236	1,249
Other	956	1,140
Other Liabilities	$ 10,597	$ 11,311

Leases (Details)	Mar. 31, 2024
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, term of contract	20 years
Minimum [Member]
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Lessee, Finance Lease, Term of Contract	3 years
Maximum [Member]
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Lessee, Finance Lease, Term of Contract	8 years

Leases - Cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Leases - Cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2024	Apr. 02, 2023
Loans and Leases Receivable Disclosure [Line Items]
Variable lease cost	$ 3,478	$ 5,471
Amortization of right-of-use assets	801	825
Interest on lease liabilities	156	208
Total lease cost	33,332	33,172
Restaurant Rent Expense [Member]
Loans and Leases Receivable Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating lease cost	28,547	26,363
General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Loans and Leases Receivable Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating lease cost	$ 350	$ 305

Long-Term Debt Debt Balances (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Apr. 02, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period	5.50%	5.80%
Finance lease liabilities	$ 9,054		$ 9,752
Long-term Debt	431,460		433,220
Less: current portion	(7,108)		(7,159)
Less: deferred financing costs	(3,770)		(4,010)
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	(236)		(263)
Long-term debt, net of current portion	420,346		421,788
Term Loan B Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Line of Credit	132,313		133,375
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Line of Credit	0		0
Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	$ 290,093		$ 290,093

Long-Term Debt Narrative (Details)				1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Long-Term Debt Narrative (Details)	Apr. 30, 2026 USD ($)	Jun. 28, 2021	Jun. 28, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($)	Apr. 02, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 13, 2019 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]
First Lien Leverage Ratio								5.75
Undrawn letters of credit, maximum amount								$ 12,000,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount					$ 11,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity					$ 204,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period					5.50%	5.80%
Borrowings under revolving credit facility					$ 0	$ 11,000,000
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage		40.00%
Derivative Asset, Notional Amount					220,000,000
Payments for Derivative Instrument, Financing Activities					1,400,000	$ 1,100,000
Accrued Interest Rate Swap, Noncurrent, Fair Value					4,900,000		$ 5,100,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity									$ 550,000,000
Debt instrument, rate							0.915%
Term Loan B Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity									425,000,000
Long-term Line of Credit					132,313,000		$ 133,375,000
Repayments of Long-term Debt							30,000,000
Derivative, Interest Rate Swap Debt Fix				$ 0.50
Term Loan B Facility [Member] \| Forecast [Member]
Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]
Repayments of Debt	$ 123,500,000
Standby Letters of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity									35,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity									$ 125,000,000
Debt, Percent of Aggregate Amount of Borrowing								35.00%
Long-term Line of Credit					$ 0		$ 0
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			2.25%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			3.25%
Term Loan B And B-1 Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]
Debt, Number of Payments					8
Repayment of Debt, Quarterly Payment					$ 1,100,000
Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2029 \| Senior Notes
Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount					$ 300,000,000
Debt instrument, rate					5.875%
Seventh Amendment, Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument, Redemption [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity					$ 215,000,000

Income Taxes Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Apr. 02, 2023
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Current	$ 213,000	$ 0
Deferred	(98,000)	2,473,000
Change in valuation allowance	(125,000)	(1,331,000)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	$ (10,000)	$ 1,142,000

Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2024	Apr. 02, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	$ 42,600,000		$ 42,700,000
Discrete tax expense	17.90%	18.70%
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Adjustment of Deferred Tax (Asset) Liability	$ 700,000	$ 800,000
Operating Loss Carryforwards	61,400,000
Change in valuation allowance	100,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	0		0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest on Income Taxes Accrued	0		$ 0
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards	47,300,000
State and Local Jurisdiction
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 133,200,000

Stock-Based Compensation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 15, 2024	Jul. 01, 2023	Mar. 31, 2024	Apr. 02, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023	Apr. 01, 2022
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation			$ 1,989	$ 1,097
Unrecognized Stock-Based Compensation Expense, Non-vested Shares			10,300
Expected Stock-Based Compensation, Remainder of Fiscal Year			$ 6,100
Weighted Average Remaining Vesting Period, Non-Vested Shares			1 year 10 months 24 days
Granted (in dollars per share)					$ 7.12
Number of shares vested (in shares)			1,028,216
Share price (in dollars per share)			$ 9.51
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures in Period			0
Granted (in shares)			645,809
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number			2,352,353		2,734,760
Restricted Stock [Member] \| Certain Employees and Officers [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Shares Available for Grant			570,390
Restricted Stock [Member] \| Outside Directors [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Shares Available for Grant			75,419
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares vested (in shares)			17,523
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period					7 years
Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period					3 years
Performance Based Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted Average Remaining Vesting Period, Non-Vested Shares			2 years 1 month 6 days
Performance Based Restricted Stock \| Executive Officer
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Vested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 8.42	$ 5.04
Performance Shares \| Executive Officer
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Shares Available for Grant	243,900	797,915				600,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number			150,000

Stock-Based Compensation Summary of Non-Vested Stock Activity (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024 $ / shares shares
Nonvested share activity [Roll Forward]
Nonvested, beginning of period (in shares) \| shares	2,734,760
Granted (in shares) \| shares	645,809
Vested (in shares) \| shares	(1,028,216)
Forfeited (in shares) \| shares	0
Nonvested, end of period (in shares) \| shares	2,352,353
Weighted Average Grant Date Price(1)
Nonvested, beginning of period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 2.84
Granted (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	8.42
Vested (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	3.07
Forfeited (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	0
Nonvested, end of period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 4.27

Stock-Based Compensation - Summary of Stock Options Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Options
Options outstanding at December 31, 2023	925,000
Forfeited (in shares)	0
Options Outstanding at March 31, 2024	925,000	925,000
Vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2024	925,000
Options exercisable at March 31, 2024	925,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Options outstanding at December 31, 2023	$ 7.12
Granted (in dollars per share)		$ 7.12
Forfeited (in dollars per share)
Vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2024	7.12
Options exercisable at March 31, 2024	7.12
Options Outstanding at March 31, 2024	$ 7.12	$ 7.12
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Options Outstanding at March 31, 2024	$ 2,211
Vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2024	2,211
Options exercisable at March 31, 2024	$ 2,211
Share price (in dollars per share)	$ 9.51

Stock-Based Compensation Summary of RSU Activity (Details) (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024 shares
Options
Vested	(1,028,216)
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Options
Non-vested at December 31, 2023	17,523
Vested	(17,523)
Non-vested at March 31, 2024	0

Commitments And Contingencies (Details)	3 Months Ended
Commitments And Contingencies (Details)	Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($) distributor lease
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Maximum potential future undiscounted rental payments	$ 7,600,000
Guarantor Obligations, Payments Made	0
Guarantor Obligations, Expected Future Payments	$ 0
Number Of Distributors \| distributor	3
Estimated Advisory Fees Payable	$ 12,300,000
Estimated Advisory Fees Payable, Current	2,000,000
Fiesta Restaurant
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Maximum potential future undiscounted rental payments	4,800,000
Taco Cabana leases
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Maximum potential future undiscounted rental payments	$ 2,800,000
McLane Company Inc. \| Revenue Benchmark \| Supplier Concentration Risk
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	30.00%
Lineage Foodservice Solutions \| Revenue Benchmark \| Supplier Concentration Risk
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	31.00%
Reinhart Food Service LLC \| Revenue Benchmark \| Supplier Concentration Risk
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	29.00%
Burger King \| Revenue Benchmark \| Supplier Concentration Risk
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	10.00%
Bakery \| Revenue Benchmark \| Supplier Concentration Risk
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	50.00%
Bakery Two \| Revenue Benchmark \| Supplier Concentration Risk
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	26.00%
Poultry Products \| Revenue Benchmark \| Supplier Concentration Risk
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	86.00%
Non-poultry Products \| Revenue Benchmark \| Supplier Concentration Risk
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	95.00%
Property Lease Guarantee [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Property leases	17
Property Leases \| lease	8
Property Lease Guarantee [Member] \| Texas Taco Cabana, L.P.
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Property Leases \| lease	9
Property Lease Guarantee [Member] \| Pollo Operations, Inc
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Property Leases \| lease	8
Closed Restaurants
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Property leases, still in operation \| lease	1
Taco Cabana leases
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Property Leases \| lease	9

Transactions with Related Parties (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Transactions with Related Parties (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) restaurant shares	Jan. 01, 2023 USD ($) restaurant	Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($) yr restaurant Rate shares	Apr. 02, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) restaurant shares	Sep. 30, 2025 restaurant	Sep. 30, 2024 restaurant	Sep. 30, 2023 restaurant	Sep. 30, 2022 restaurant	Sep. 30, 2021 restaurant	Jan. 04, 2021 restaurant state
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares issued \| shares	100		100		100
Convertible Preferred Stock, Common Shares Issuable upon Conversion (in shares) \| shares			9,414,580
Board of directors, number of members			2
Franchise agreement, term			20 years
Franchise Term \| yr			20
Monthly Digital Platform Fee			$ 900	$ 700
Other liabilities	$ 29,120		$ 49,426		$ 29,120
Area Development Agreement, Restaurants To Be Opened, Built, And Operated \| restaurant								12	10	4	50
Area Development Agreement, Percentage Of New Restaurants To Be In Kentucky, Tennessee And Indiana											80.00%
Restaurants completed \| restaurant	3	6			3
Area Development Agreement, Number Of Restaurants To Be Acquired \| restaurant											500
Area Development Agreement, Number Of States \| state											16
Number of restaurants \| restaurant			227
Number of restaurants remodeled \| restaurant			8
Related Party
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Purchase commitment	$ 1,700		$ 2,500
Purchase Commitment, Kiosks, Additional Funding	2,500		3,700
Purchase commitment, total	4,200		6,200
Additional Receivables			1,500
Contributions Received			400
Forecast [Member] \| Subsequent Event
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Area Development Agreement, Restaurants To Be Opened, Built, And Operated \| restaurant						12	12
Burger King Corporate [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Technology Equipment, Right Of Use			11,400		$ 12,200
Self-ordering kiosks			1,800
Repairs, Replacements, and Improvements Provided			$ 12,200
Burger King Corporate [Member] \| Royalty Agreement Terms [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Rate \| Rate			4.50%
Popeyes [Member] \| Royalty Agreement Terms [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Rate \| Rate			5.00%
Affiliated Entity [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Preferred stock, ownership percentage if converted \| Rate			14.60%
Initial Franchise Fees			$ 50
Royalty Expense			20,300	19,800
Advertising Expense			$ 17,900	$ 17,400
Property leases			217	220
Operating lease cost			$ 7,300	$ 7,100
Affiliated Entity [Member] \| Selling and Marketing Expense [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Rate \| Rate			4.00%
Affiliated Entity [Member] \| Burger King Corporate [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 120,000
BKC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Other liabilities	16,900		$ 17,900		16,900
PLK
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Other liabilities	$ 16,900		$ 17,900		$ 16,900
Related Party
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Property leases			95	93

Stockholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Apr. 05, 2024	Mar. 31, 2024	Feb. 22, 2024	Aug. 02, 2019
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends Payable, Amount Per Share			$ 0.02
Subsequent Event
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Special cash dividend declared	$ 1.3
Repurchase Program [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount				$ 25.0
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount		$ 11.0

Net Loss Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Apr. 02, 2023
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 3,664	$ 864
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 2,942	$ 704
Weighted average common shares outstanding	52,325,476	51,422,010
Basic net income (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.01
Diluted net income per share:
Net income (loss)	$ 3,664	$ 864
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	52,325,476	51,422,010
Dilutive effect of preferred stock and non-vested shares (in shares)	11,896,401	9,998,024
Shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per share (in shares)	64,221,877	61,420,034
Diluted net income (loss) per share (in shares)	$ 0.06	$ 0.01
Restricted Stock [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Undistributed Earnings (Loss) Allocated to Participating Securities, Basic	$ 193	$ 129
Preferred Stock [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Undistributed Earnings (Loss) Allocated to Participating Securities, Basic	$ 529	$ 31

Other Expense (Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Other Expense (Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2024	Apr. 02, 2023
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
Gain from insurance recoveries	$ (1,500)	$ (900)
Gain on previous sale-leaseback transactions		(800)
Gain on condemnation of property	(700)
Other expenses	(2,000)	(1,500)
Loss on disposal of assets	$ 200	$ 200

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