NRD Capital forms Experiential Brands, names Paul Damico CEO

NRD Capital has acquired Fuzzy's Taco shop as the anchor of its newly formed platform, Experiential Brands, which plans to buy other experiential brands in the food and beverage space. Paul Damico, former CEO of Global Franchise Group and president of Atlanta-based Focus Brands, will serve as CEO, in addition to his role as CEO of Fuzzy's.

"Paul is an experienced veteran in the restaurant franchise industry and has a proven track record of successfully scaling and growing franchised brands, most notably growing Moe's Southwest Grill from 200 to 700 units, making him the ideal fit for this role," Aziz Hashim, founder and managing partner of NRD Capital, said in a company press release.

"We're thrilled to launch Experiential Brands, and Fuzzy's Taco Shop is the optimal anchor of the platform because of its energy and unique offering," Damico said in the release. "We are actively looking for additional exciting brands to continue to build out the portfolio."

Damico plans to double the size of Fuzzy's over the next five years and will eventually oversee a multi-brand portfolio of food and beverage companies.

"While the industry has seen an increase in online ordering and delivery, we believe there is still a place in the market for guests who are searching for a 'dining experience,'" he said. "Fuzzy's Taco Shop is a prime example of why we believe this model to be successful. There is an experience our fans love about Fuzzy's in addition to the Baja flavor profile of the food. Whether it's the full bar, our laid-back patios, the music, TVs, or overall ambiance, guests seek out the physical restaurant to get the full Fuzzy's experience."

Founded in 2003 near the Texas Christian University campus in Fort Worth, Fuzzy's has nearly 150 franchise and corporate-owned locations in 17 states.

NRD is a private equity management firm that identifies investment opportunities. It also manages NRD Tech Ventures, a VC arm that invests in strategic technologies.