 Heartland Food Corporation ( Heartland ) came into existence when Miami @-@ based franchisee Al Cabrera purchased a large chunk of stores , 130 locations primarily in the Chicago and the upper mid @-@ west , from the failed franchise AmeriKing for a bargain basement price of $ 16 million , or approximately 88 % of their original value in December 2003 . Taking these stores , he and his partners created a new company called Core Value Partners to renovate and update the locations which had deteriorated during Ameriking 's decline . During this time , the company was renamed Heartland Food Corp. and it purchased 120 additional stores from other financially distressed owners and completely revamped them as well . The resulting purchases made Mr. Cabrerra Burger King 's largest minority franchisee and Heartland one of BKC 's top franchisee groups at the time . By 2006 , the company was valued at over $ 150 million , and was sold to New York @-@ based GSO Capital Partners . 
