Canada, ON: Ottawa�s Big Rig Brewery acquired by restaurant franchise Foodtastic

Foodtastic, a Quebec-based restaurant franchise company, has announced that it has purchased Ottawa�s Big Rig Brewery and Big Rig Restaurants for an undisclosed amount, the Canadian Beer News reported on June 10.

�Big Rig is a treasured local brand and we are excited to welcome Big Rig into the Foodtastic family,� said Peter Mammas, President and CEO of Foodtastic, in a statement. �We look forward to preserving Big Rig�s strong brand, while growing the restaurant system across the region. We are already looking at locations in Toronto.�

The original Big Rig brewpub location was opened in 2012 by a group of partners that included Ottawa Senators defenceman Chris Phillips. A larger production brewery and taproom was launched in 2014 in Kanata, and a second Big Rig restaurant and bar opened the following year in Ottawa�s Gloucester Centre.

The announcement also notes that brewmaster Lon Ladell will be remaining in his role, and has increased his equity stake in the company.