MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. — Carlson, owner of TGI Friday’s Restaurants, is conducting a strategic review that may include the sale of the chain.

“Capitalizing on Fridays’ strong marketplace momentum, the board has determined that this is the optimum time to assess its options for the iconic restaurant brand, including a possible sale,” said Trudy Rautio, president and chief executive officer of Carlson.

TGI Fridays operates more than 900 restaurants in 60 countries.

“This is an exciting time for Fridays restaurants worldwide and for our employees,” said Nick Shepherd, president and chief executive officer. “For the past several years, Carlson has invested heavily in the business to refresh the brand, coupled with aggressive actions within the corporate structure to contain costs.  In support of our brand promise, ‘In Here, It’s Always Friday’ we are uniquely positioned as the best casual dining bar in our category, which enables us to deliver strong results for our owners.”