Fox Entertainment Invests in B.J. Novak’s Food Company, Chain
Fox Entertainment has acquired an equity stake in B.J. Novak‘s food experience company, Chain, a Los Angeles-based venture that eventizes nostalgic dining. The deal includes Fox IP integrations and a first-look development deal with Chain Media.
Chain is best known for ChainFest, a ticketed event in L.A. that features Michelin-starred chef remixes of fast food favorites, pop-up restaurants and exclusive menu offerings. Its collaborations include Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Jack in the Box and Panda Express, as well as entertainment partners like Paramount and Disney.
Fox will partner Chain’s food pop-ups, fan festivals and other events with Gordon Ramsay’s Studio Ramsay Global banner, which is also under the Fox umbrella. (Ramsay, one of the most famous culinary personalities of all time, has produced hosted Fox series from “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Masterchef” and this year’s “Secret Service.” The network plans to integrate Chain into Ramsay’s growing list of television programming. The goal is for Chain to grow its event portfolio and develop live experiences tied to Fox’s culinary properties.
“Food continues to define culture — it’s how we celebrate, how we remember, how we connect. No one understands how to turn culinary storytelling into cultural obsession like Fox Entertainment and Studio Ramsay Global. We’re excited to work together to bring Chain experiences to more people,” said Novak.
“As Fox continues to expand its dominance across the food space, investing in Chain furthers our digital storytelling and content creation strategy with this deep partnership in a winning business model, where viral events advance creative possibilities,” added Rob Wade, CEO of Fox Entertainment. “Studio Ramsay Global’s far-reaching, growing culinary empire and unmatched digital footprint, together with Chain’s remarkable, proven impact, will strengthen, scale and deepen our connection to food fans everywhere.”
Chain was founded by Novak, producers and entrepreneurs Jack Davis, Abe Burns and Byron Ashley; Michelin-starred chef Timothy Hollingsworth; and chief creative officer Nicholas Kraft.
