American West Restaurant Group

American West Restaurant Group (“AmWest”) is the largest Pizza Hut franchisee in California and Utah and the third largest in the United States. From 2008 to 2012, Sentinel owned AmWest under the name Southern California Pizza, which Sentinel created through a carveout transaction from franchisor Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands. AmWest operates more than 270 Pizza Hut restaurants in greater Los Angeles across five contiguous counties: central Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernadino, Ventura, North Orange County, and metropolitan Salt Lake City. Its leading position in Southern California gives AmWest control over local marketing initiatives and brand image in one of the nation’s largest and most important QSR and pizza markets. A large majority of AmWest’s restaurants are highly efficient and modern delivery/carryout units that generate strong unit-level economics. After a four-year hold, Sentinel exited the investment in 2025.