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The Keg is a Canadian-owned chain of steakhouse restaurants and bars operating in both Canada and the United States. The first location, originally named "The Keg and Cleaver" restaurant, was founded in 1971 by George Tidball in North Vancouver, British Columbia. By February 2018, The Keg had expanded to 160 locations in Canada and the United States, when Canadian food industry giant Cara Operations (now known as Recipe Unlimited) purchased the chain for $200 million from then owners David Aisenstat (49%) and Fairfax Financial (51%). The chain is also recognized as The Keg Steakhouse + Bar.
The Keg purchased some historic properties, refurbishing them and turning them into . Examples of this are the Keg Mansion in Toronto and the Keg Manor at the Maplelawn Estate in Ottawa. The Downtown Winnipeg location opened in 1975 as The Keg and Cleaver in the former Hudson's Bay Company Garage on Garry Street, where it still operates today. Other notable heritage restorations are the Keg in Kamloops, British Columbia, which was a CN Station; and in New Westminster, British Columbia, formerly the city's CPR station. The Old Strathcona location, restored and opened in Edmonton, three years after Tidball opened the first Keg. It was originally built in 1912 as the Scona Apartments and Scona Garage, one of the earliest automobile sales and service locations in that city. This location has since closed.
In 2002, KRL created the Keg Royalties Income Fund, sold through a public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange, trading as . The Fund owns the trademarks and intellectual property of "The Keg", and receives an annual royalty of 4% of gross sales for restaurant locations in the Royalty Pool. KRL kept a 99-year license to use the name "The Keg"; it also provided management services to The Keg Royalties Income Fund at no cost as part of its long-term royalty and licensing agreement. The Fund's creation presented the first opportunity for the public to trade in any portion of The Keg group of companies, which were previously fully private.
On February 4, 2014, Aisenstat sold 51% of his private holdings in The Keg to Fairfax Financial, a publicly traded Canadian holding company. The Keg Royalties Income Fund - Annual Information Form - March 29, 2017 - SEDAR
On January 23, 2018, it was announced that Canadian food industry giant Cara Operations was purchasing KRL for $200 million. The deal closed in February 2018, with Fairfax Financial and David Aisenstat sharing $105 million plus 3.8 million Cara subordinate voting shares. Aisenstat joined Cara's board of directors and assumed executive oversight of the higher-end brands within the 19 restaurant chains then held by Cara. Cara also announced that the acquisition had prompted the company to change its own name, confirming on May 10, 2018 that it would be renamed Recipe Unlimited Corporation.
On May 5, 2025, the Keg Royalties Income Fund entered into a letter of intent under which Fairfax Financial would acquire all the issued outstanding units of the fund for $18.60/unit. The largest holder of fund units (other than those owned by Fairfax) supports the proposed transaction.
See also
External links
Categories: Official Website, Recipe Unlimited, Companies Based In Richmond, British Columbia, Restaurant Chains In Canada, Restaurant Franchises, Economy Of The Western United States, Regional Restaurant Chains In The United States, Companies Listed On The Toronto Stock Exchange, Steakhouses, Restaurants Established In 1972, 1972 Establishments In British Columbia, 2018 Mergers And Acquisitions, Herb Capozzi
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