Royal Ravintolat

Royal Ravintolat was Finland’s largest private hotel and restaurant group. Founded in the early 1990s as a family business by the Saari and Hynninen families, by the early 2000s the company had a strong position in Helsinki’s restaurant market with its classic as well as event-themed restaurants and a developing hotel business.

Intera became the majority owner of the restaurant chain in 2011 when the founding families sold most of their holdings. The goal was to develop operations nationwide, significantly accelerate growth, and open several new restaurant units. At the time of Intera’s investment in 2011, the company comprised of 27 restaurants and two hotels in Helsinki.

During Intera’s ownership, Royal Ravintolat grew from a local family-owned company to a national leader in the restaurant industry. Over seven years, several acquisitions were completed, and a significant number of new restaurants were opened. Royal Ravintolat also focused on its restaurant operations and divested from the hotel business. The company’s leadership transitioned smoothly from the Saari family to new hands, and the strong existing company culture evolved significantly. By the end of Intera’s ownership in 2018, Royal Ravintolat included 70 restaurants across Finland, including iconic classics like Savoy as well as new concept restaurant businesses.

In 2018, the Intera-owned Royal Ravintolat was merged with Restamax. This transaction created one of the largest restaurant groups in the Nordic countries, NoHo, or Nordic Hospitality Partners, which is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Stock Exchange. During Intera’s majority ownership, the revenue of Royal Ravintolat grew from EUR 60 million in 2011 to EUR 110 million in 2018. The number of employees increased from 500 at the beginning of the ownership to 950 at the time of the exit.

Intera continued as a minority owner in the new company, NoHo Partners, until the end of 2020.