Mas Restaurant Group, a franchisee backed by Bessemer Ventures and operating Taco Bell outlets in Houston and Columbus, announced the sale of its 43 Ohio locations to Southpaw, an owner‑operator with more than 180 Taco Bell and Dunkin’ sites across several states. The deal trims MRG’s footprint while preserving its 36 Texas Taco Bells in Houston in the region.

Earlier this month MRG off‑loaded 44 Texas locations to Ghai Restaurant Group, signaling a rapid divestiture strategy. Bessemer first partnered with the franchisee in 2018 alongside CEO Chad Motsinger and CFO Ben Walsh, providing capital for expansion. The Ohio transaction reduces exposure to the Midwest, concentrating MRG’s operations around its core Gulf Coast markets for long‑term growth and strengthens profitability.

With the Ohio assets now under Southpaw, the operator adds roughly 40 new locations to its portfolio, pushing its total Taco Bell count above 220. The move gives Southpaw scale advantages in supply chain and marketing, while MRG can focus on higher‑margin markets. The transaction underscores a broader trend of franchisees consolidating to improve efficiency across the United States nationally.