McDonald’s, which last year spun off its interest in Denver-based Chipotle Mexican Grill, said it is considering its options for Golden-based Boston Market.
“As it relates to Boston Market, we are beginning to look at potential options and will explore our alternatives during 2007,” McDonald’s said in an e-mail statement. “No decisions have been made whatsoever and therefore it is absolutely inappropriate to speculate.
Boston Market employees were notified of the move at a staff meeting Thursday, said Boston Market spokeswoman Phyllis Hammond.
McDonald’s bought Boston Market out of bankruptcy in 2000, paying $173.5 million for what was then a 751 unit chain. The company closed some locations and focused on revamping the chain’s menu.
Boston Market now has 620 locations in 28 states.
In recent years, the nation’s large fast food chains have been under pressure from investors to spin off their subsidiary restaurants to focus on their core brands.
McDonald’s spun off part of its share of the Chipotle chain in an initial public offering last. It shed the remainder of its holdings in the company last fall. Wendy’s completed the spin-off of its Tim Horton’s chain in August.
Staff writer Kristi Arellano can be reached at 303-954-1902 or karellano@denverpost.com.
