Guzman Y Gomez attracts more Australian athletes as investors

Aussie fast food chain Guzman Y Gomez is drawing big bucks from investment-hungry sports stars. See who else has splashed their cash.

Exclusive: Australian fast food chain Guzman Y Gomez’s expansion shows no signs of abating, with its ambitious plans drawing big bucks from investment-hungry sports stars.

Champions across all walks of sport recently bought a stake in the Mexican restaurant chain, which is set to launch more local stores after its recent US expansion.

Listing on the Australian Stock Exchange also remains on the cards for GYG, which has 151 restaurants across the globe owned by both the company and franchisees.

The joint cash splash was made through Athletic Ventures, founded by GWS Giants midfielder Matt de Boer.

The AFL star’s investment syndicate plan is to back high-growth technology and consumer businesses.

GYG is among five companies — including digital healthcare start-ups euc.alypt.us and HealthMatch; “human performance” tech company Fusion Sport; and new-age funeral service, Bare — which it has invested in since its inception last year.

New backers of de Boer’s Athletic Ventures include Australian Open champion Dylan Alcott, AFL Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe, South Sydney lock Cam Murray and netballer Maddy Proud.

From Left to right: Steven Marks, GYG CEO & Founder; Matt de Boer AFL GWS Giants & Athletic Ventures Founder; Maddy Proud Super Netball, NSW Swifts; Lach Keefe AFL GWS Giants; Cam Murray NRL Rabbitohs; Cal Sinclair AFL Sydney Swans; Toby Greene AFL GWS Giants; Mike Hirshowiitz CFO & COO at GYG. Picture: Supplied

Many of the athletes say they chose to support the restaurant chain — which opened its first outlet in Newtown, NSW, 15 years ago — because they believe it has potential for further growth.

Guzman Y Gomez founder Steven Marks told News Corp he vetted the stars who’d signed with Athletic Ventures to ensure they shared the same values.

He said this meant they needed to be humble, place importance on community, and believed in “eating clean”.

Guzman y Gomez founder Steven Marks (left) with AFL player Matthew de Boer. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The Magellan Financial Group has valued the business at being worth $870 million after it took out a $86.8 million (10 per cent) stake.

Mr Marks said the investment from sport stars who joined Athletic Ventures was “significantly less”.

“Some had tens of thousands, some had hundreds of thousands. What I care most is that it was significant to them,” he said.

He said the athletes would be kept abreast of the business’ future plans, and he was keen to hear new ideas from them.

NBA Cleveland Cavalier and Australian Boomer, Matt Dellavedova, who is among the investors, said he was “excited about GYG’s potential in the US.”

Matthew Dellavedova #18 of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Picture: Getty

“When the opportunity to invest and be part of the GYG journey came up, I was definitely in,” he said.

“An Australian business taking on the global fast food industry is such a great story but GYG is innovating and fast food that’s made fresh with drive-thrus is exactly what a market like the US will love.”

Mr Marks said GYG had planned an IPO for November this year in a move to become a publicly listed company, but this had now been postponed.

“We’ve built a successful business here, and we have cash,” he said.

“I’m not going to rush (into a IPO). I think it could be a possibility in the next two years.”

GYG is also set to open six more restaurants before June 30.

A drive-through restaurant is due to open in Caloundra, Queensland, in April, as well as three others at Richlands, Pimpama, and Willows in the sunshine state in May.

A GYG drive through will also open in Malvern East, Victoria, in June, and new restaurant is also set to open at the Westpac Centre in Sydney CBD in the same month.

Originally published as Guzman Y Gomez attracts more Australian athletes as investors