Wolfgang Puck Adds to Restaurant Chain

Wolfgang Puck Worldwide Inc. of Beverly Hills has acquired 15 Cucina Cucina cafes and seven Cucina Presto fast-casual outlets from restaurateurs Bill and John Schwartz. Terms of the deal were not announced.

Puck, owner and operator of Wolfgang Puck Express and Wolfgang Puck Cafe, said it would run the 22 Italian restaurants, based mostly in the Pacific Northwest, as a separate division. No layoffs or closures are expected.

Closely held Puck snapped up the Cucina group, which will continue to be based in Bellevue, Wash., because of solid growth in the Italian casual market, said Rob Kautz, chief executive of Wolfgang Puck Worldwide. Sales at the Cucina restaurants totaled more than $39 million last year.

Marc Ballon