EIN Presswire: Fast Food Live Feed Press Releases

Dunkin' Brands Appoints Food-Service & Retail Executive Giorgio Minardi as President of International

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:35:00 +0000

Dunkin' Brands Appoints Food-Service & Retail Executive Giorgio Minardi as President of International

PR Newswire

CANTON, Mass., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With more than 16,500 restaurants in 60 countries around the world, Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN), the parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, today announced the appointment of international food-service and retail industry executive Giorgio Minardi to the position of President, Dunkin' Brands International. In this role, Minardi will be responsible for strategically expanding the presence of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins outside the United States and for delivering a consistent, but culturally relevant, brand experience for the Company's international customers. Minardi will report directly to Nigel Travis, Dunkin' Brands' Chief Executive Officer and President, Dunkin' Donuts, and will serve on the Dunkin' Brands leadership team.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110317/NY67297LOGO )

A highly experienced food-service and retail industry executive, Minardi has held top strategic development and brand management positions at prominent international food-service and retail companies, including McDonald's, Burger King and Autogrill Corporation, a food, beverage and retail company. Most recently, Minardi served as Managing Director, Europe and the Middle East, for Autogrill where he was responsible for every aspect of that company's business operations in 40 countries. He also served as Autogrill's Chairman in Spain and Belgium, and as President in Switzerland. Under Minardi's direction, Autogrill undertook an aggressive development plan that expanded its market share while driving sales and profits.

"With an impressive career as an international executive with some of the leading brands in the food-service and retail industry, Giorgio is eminently qualified to help us capitalize on the tremendous global growth opportunities available to Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins," said Nigel Travis. "He has a unique blend of marketing, operational, development and general management experience, as well as on-the-ground experience in Asia Pacific, Europe and the U.S. Combine all of that with his passion for the food-service industry, and we believe he will enable us to enhance our support of our international franchisees and drive profitable growth in new and existing markets."

Prior to Autogrill, Minardi was with Burger King, first as Vice President of Asia Pacific, and later as Division Vice President of Northwest Europe, where he was responsible for the company's overall performance in the United Kingdom, the brand's second-biggest region outside the U.S. Minardi also spent 16 years with McDonald's Corporation, initially serving as Vice President Marketing, Asia Pacific, and ultimately as Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Greater China, contributing significantly to the company's growth in the region. Minardi currently serves on the Board of Directors of Volotea Airlines in Europe.

"I am excited about being a part of the Dunkin' Brands team. The company is among the world's largest quick-service restaurant companies and includes two of the most recognized and beloved brands in the industry," said Giorgio Minardi. "I look forward to working with the franchisees, as well as the management team, and to helping Dunkin' Brands recognize its significant international growth opportunities."

During the first nine months of 2011, Dunkin' Brands, Inc., the parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, opened approximately 480 net new locations globally. In 2010 the company added more net new locations than almost any other quick-service restaurant chain in the world. For more information about Dunkin' Brands, please visit http://DunkinBrands.com.

About Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc.
With more than 16,500 points of distribution in nearly 60 countries worldwide, Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) is one of the world's leading franchisors of quick service restaurants (QSR) serving hot and cold coffee and baked goods, as well as hard-serve ice cream. At the end of 2011, Dunkin' Brands' nearly 100 percent franchised business model included more than 10,000 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants and more than 6,400 Baskin-Robbins restaurants. For the full-year 2010, the company had system-wide sales of approximately $7.7 billion. Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. is headquartered in Canton, Mass.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein are not based on historical fact and are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the applicable securities laws and regulations. Generally, these statements can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "feel," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "project," "should," "would," and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. These risk and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the ongoing level of profitability of franchisees and licensees; changes in working relationship with our franchisees and licensees and the actions of our franchisees and licensees; our master franchisees' relationships with sub-franchisees; the strength of our brand in the markets in which we compete; changes in competition within the quick service restaurant segment of the food industry; changes in consumer behavior resulting from changes in technologies or alternative methods of delivery; economic and political conditions in the countries where we operate; our substantial indebtedness; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; consumer preferences, spending patterns and demographic trends; the success of our growth strategy and international development; changes in commodity and food prices, particularly coffee, dairy products and sugar, and the other operating costs; shortages of coffee; failure of our network and information technology systems; interruptions or shortages in the supply of products to our franchisees and licensees; inability to recover our capital costs; changes in political, legal, economic or other factors in international markets; termination of a master franchise agreement or contracts with the U.S. military; currency exchange rates; the impact of food borne-illness or food safety issues or adverse public or medial opinions regarding the health effects of consuming our products; our ability to collect royalty payments from our franchisees and licensees; uncertainties relating to litigation; changes in regulatory requirements to our and our franchisees and licensees ability to comply with current or future regulatory requirements; review and audit of certain of our tax returns; the ability of our franchisees and licensees to open new restaurants and keep existing restaurants in operation; our ability to retain key personnel; any inability to protect consumer credit card data and catastrophic events. Forward-looking statements reflect management's analysis as of the date of this press release. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are more fully described in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the section headed "Risk Factors" in our prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 17, 2011. Except as required by applicable law, we do not undertake to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:

Karen Raskopf	Stacey Caravella
SVP Communications	Director, Investor Relations
Dunkin' Brands, Inc.	Dunkin Brands, Inc.
781-737-5200	781-737-3200
Karen.Raskopf@DunkinBrands.com	investor.relations@dunkinbrands.com

SOURCE Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc.

86 Year Old SUBWAY® Franchisee Enjoys Second Career Success

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:40:58 +0000

86 Year Old SUBWAY® Franchisee Enjoys Second Career Success

-Owner of 24 Iowa Restaurants Embraces the Entrepreneurial Spirit-

PR Newswire

MILFORD, Conn., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bob Thomson, a SUBWAY® franchisee with twenty-four restaurants in Iowa, will soon be celebrating his 86th birthday, and twenty-two years with the SUBWAY® chain.

At an age when most would consider retirement, Bob Thomson left his job running variety stores across Iowa to take on a bigger franchise- the SUBWAY® sandwich chain giant.

"The first Subway I saw was in Hawaii. I went in, grabbed a sandwich, and was immediately sold on the program. I knew I wanted to become a franchisee for this company that I knew would grow in the years to follow," said Bob, who has an office in Charles City with his business partner, George Slattery.

And that it did. From just 3,000 restaurants in all 50 states when Bob joined the team 23 years ago, to currently more than 36,000 locations in 98 countries, Bob has grown with the developing chain, owning 24 restaurants himself. Giving other young franchisees a run for their money, Bob owns the most SUBWAY® restaurants in the northern Iowa territory. In addition, Bob and his partner are proud of the fact that their restaurants provide about 250 jobs in the community.

Born in Minnesota, Bob always had an interest in entrepreneurism, studying business at the University of Minnesota after serving two years in the Navy during World War II. A job with a chamber of commerce brought Bob to Iowa followed by owning several Ben Franklin stores and eventually buying his first SUBWAY® franchise in 1990.

With a never-ending supply of energy, you can find Bob at the yearly SUBWAY® Convention, multi-unit owner meetings, and field meetings throughout the year, keeping up to date on the latest developments and technology within the company. When he's not working, Bob enjoys spending time in sunny Florida with friends, and visiting his four children.

"He's got more stamina than the average 20 year old," said Charlie Thomson, Bob's son who is also involved in the business. "Managing and traveling to his stores to make sure they are in the best condition possible is what keeps him going." A shared family value for entrepreneurism, Bob's daughter is also involved in the business, working at a SUBWAY® restaurant on the Luther College campus and Charlie chips in whenever help is needed. Bob hopes his children can carry on the business when he retires, which he says is nowhere in the near future.

"Bob certainly has an inspiring story, and we are proud of the fact that he, like many Subway franchisees, chose Subway to kick off his second career," said Chief Development Officer Don Fertman. "Franchisees like Bob, who are driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, are the heart and soul of the Subway family. Bob's story is just one of 17,000 other stories of entrepreneurs who have discovered that owning and operating a Subway franchise is not just a job or an investment, but a way of life."

About SUBWAY® Restaurants

Headquartered in Milford, Connecticut, and with regional offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Brisbane, Miami and Singapore, the SUBWAY® chain was co-founded by Fred DeLuca and Dr. Peter Buck in 1965. Their partnership, which continues today, marked the beginning of a remarkable journey — one that has made it possible for thousands of individuals to build and succeed in their own business.

In the 2010 Zagat® Fast Food Survey, the SUBWAY® brand was ranked "number one" by consumers in the "Most Popular," "Top Service" and "Healthy Options" categories for food brands with 5,000 or more locations.

For more information about the SUBWAY®chain, visit www.subway.com.

Find us on Facebook: Facebook.com/subway

SUBWAY®is a registered trademark of Doctor's Associates Inc.

SOURCE SUBWAY Restaurants

Krispy Kreme Franchise Locations Throughout South, Central and West Texas Gain Technology Advantage With MICROS Cloud Solution, Simphony

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:12:00 +0000

Krispy Kreme Franchise Locations Throughout South, Central and West Texas Gain Technology Advantage With MICROS Cloud Solution, Simphony

Enterprise cloud-based POS helps improve efficiency and reduce costs.

PR Newswire

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospitality Solutions International (HSI), a division of MICROS Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCRS), is pleased to announce that Glazing Saddles, LLC, a franchisee of Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation, has chosen to implement MICROS Simphony™, a cloud-based point-of-service and enterprise restaurant management system. All eight of the franchise's locations will benefit from MICROS Simphony's service-oriented architecture (SOA), which enables the central management of menus, payroll, scheduling, gift cards and loyalty functions from anywhere through a web browser.

Krispy Kreme began serving coffee and doughnuts in 1937 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Original Glazed® doughnuts gained in popularity as the company sold them to local grocery stores and the company expanded throughout the United States in the decades that followed. Glazing Saddles was part of this expansion as it introduced Krispy Kreme to customers throughout Texas. Its franchise locations include Austin, San Antonio, San Marcos, Laredo and El Paso.

As a franchise operator in growth mode, Glazing Saddles requires the latest technology for fully-hosted enterprise management software. MICROS Simphony provides the perfect solution with file servers that are housed in a MICROS data center, managing upgrades, handling maintenance, and providing the most recent security technology to protect Glazing Saddles' data.

The MICROS Simphony Enterprise solution is configured with Simphony Labor, to help manage staffing, and Simphony Loyalty, to aid in the creation of a new loyalty and gift card program. In addition, the system has a fully customizable web-based reporting capability with a complete set of auditing and analysis tools designed to deliver actionable information. Simphony's web reporting is also available on mobile devices, including the iPhone and iPad. Each of the franchise locations will implement 4 MICROS Workstation 5A terminals as well as a MICROS Kitchen Display System (KDS), which will help facilitate its drive-through ordering. The MICROS KDS will expedite drive-through orders by relaying detailed order information to the employees preparing orders.

"One of the Krispy Kreme values is to 'never settle for second-best,'" stated Mark Miller, CFO of Glazing Saddles, LLC. "I believe in the MICROS Simphony solution for my Glazing Saddles Krispy Kreme stores, and I'm excited about being able to use the latest enterprise technology. We will benefit greatly from the central administration of our restaurant management applications, and since they are hosted in the cloud, our data will be safely warehoused and benefit from full redundancy. Many vendors do not offer this high level of security. And by becoming more efficient, we will spend less time managing our point-of-sale systems, helping us save money and allowing us to better serve our customers."

"We are thrilled to have been selected by Glazing Saddles as its technology partner," stated Cyndi Shepley, Vice President and General Manager at HSI. "We are confident this installation of MICROS Simphony will demonstrate how HSI collaborates as a team to provide leading-edge hospitality products with exceptional service. We look forward to supporting Glazing Saddles as it continues to grow the Krispy Kreme concept."

About Glazing Saddles, LLC and Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation
Glazing Saddles Krispy Kreme locations include 2 stores in El Paso, 2 stores in San Antonio, 2 stores in Austin, 1 store in San Marcos and 1 store in Laredo. The concept features a variety of freshly-made doughnuts and signature coffees. These locations have both counter and drive-through service, and boast impeccable presentation as well as attention to good service.

For more information on Glazing Saddles, LLC, please visit its website at www.krispykremetexas.com.
For more information on Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation, please visit its website at www.krispykreme.com.

About Hospitality Solutions International (HSI), a division of MICROS Systems, Inc.
Hospitality Solutions International (HSI), a division of MICROS Systems, Inc., is a leading software developer, systems integrator and technology solution provider to the hospitality industry. HSI provides point-of-sale and enterprise-management solutions to table service, fine dining and fast casual restaurants, hotels, resorts and casinos. As a customer-direct company, their employees provide exceptional customer service, consultative sales, and industry-focused development to clients in North America.

For more information on HSI and its advanced information technology solutions for the hospitality industry, please contact Bryce Witcher, Director of Marketing at (480) 707-6238 or (800) 474-5022. You can also visit the HSI website at www.hsi-solutions.com or send an email to marketing@hsi-solutions.com.

About MICROS Systems, Inc.
MICROS Systems, Inc. provides enterprise applications for the hospitality and retail industries worldwide. Over 330,000 MICROS systems are currently installed in table and quick service restaurants, hotels, motels, casinos, leisure and entertainment, and retail operations in more than 180 countries, and on all seven continents. In addition, MICROS provides property management systems, central reservation and customer information solutions under the brand MICROS-Fidelio for more than 26,000 hotels worldwide, as well as point-of-sale, loss prevention, and cross-channel functionality through its MICROS-Retail division for more than 100,000 retail stores worldwide. MICROS stock is traded through NASDAQ under the symbol MCRS.

For more information on MICROS and its advanced information technology solutions for the hospitality and retail industries, please contact Louise Casamento, Vice President of Marketing at (443) 285-8144 or (866) 287-4736. You can also visit the MICROS website at www.micros.com or send an email to info@micros.com.

The HSI logo is a registered trademark of MICROS Systems, Inc.
All other product and brand names are the property of their respective owners.

Contact: Bryce Witcher
480-707-6238
bwitcher@hsi-solutions.com

SOURCE MICROS Systems, Inc.

Papa Murphy's Makes Anybody a Great Baker this Valentine's Day

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:07:00 +0000

Papa Murphy's Makes Anybody a Great Baker this Valentine's Day

Take 'n' bake pizza chain returns HeartBaker™ Pizza through February 14

PR Newswire

VANCOUVER, Wash., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Papa Murphy's is leveling the playing field for all bakers with its Valentine's Day favorite – the HeartBaker™ pizza. With a 425 degree oven, an oven mitt and a pizza cutter, even the most amateur baker can make the family a hot, delicious meal with love. This is demonstrated in the chain's new TV advertisement viewable at www.youtube.com/papamurphyspizza.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120207/SF48453)

"There's already enough pressure to impress on Valentine's Day – leave the work to us," said Carron Harris, vice president of product development at Papa Murphy's. "The HeartBaker starts with our fresh dough that's formed into a heart and topped with freshly grated cheese and loads of pepperoni. We keep the mess, you take it and enjoy the home baked aroma and minimal clean-up. Now that says 'Happy Valentine's Day'."

Like Papa Murphy's other pizzas, the HeartBaker is a premium-quality, budget-friendly pizza. Price and participation vary nationwide.

About Papa Murphy's

Papa Murphy's is the fifth-largest pizza chain in the country and a revolutionary of the take 'n' bake pizza segment. Papa Murphy's operates over 1,300 franchised and corporate-owned locations in 37 states and Canada. The Vancouver, Wash.-based company offers custom-made pizzas featuring high-quality, fresh toppings generously layered on pizza dough that is made fresh each morning in each store. By baking Papa Murphy's pizzas at home, customers get to experience the home-baked aroma of a convenient, delicious meal that the brand is known for. In addition to handmade pizzas, the company offers other take 'n' bake items such as Cheesy Bread, Cinnamon Wheels, and chocolate chip cookie dough. Papa Murphy's was voted "#1 Rated Pizza Chain" by participants in Zagat Survey's 2010 & 2011 Fast Food Surveys and is a four-time recipient of Pizza Today's Chain of the Year award. For more information, visit www.papamurphys.com or go to Facebook at www.facebook.com/papamurphyspizza.

Contact:
Lindsi Taylor
lindsi.taylor@papamurphys.com
360-449-4017

SOURCE Papa Murphy's

Dunkin' Donuts Is Number One in Coffee Customer Loyalty for Sixth Straight Year

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Dunkin' Donuts Is Number One in Coffee Customer Loyalty for Sixth Straight Year

PR Newswire

CANTON, Mass., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In the highly competitive U.S. coffee market, Dunkin' Donuts is once again distinguished for brewing a superior guest experience. For the sixth straight year, Dunkin' Donuts, America's all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods, has been recognized by the Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index as number one in customer loyalty in the coffee category.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110224/NY53806LOGO )

The 16th annual national survey conducted by brand loyalty and engagement consultancy Brand Keys identifies brands that are best able to engage consumers by meeting or exceeding their expectations, which creates loyal customers. Brand Keys' Customer Loyalty Engagement Index recognizes the brands that receive the highest loyalty and engagement assessments and surpass competitors for "delighting" customers. In the coffee category, consumer preferences were based on consistently meeting customer expectations for taste, quality, service, and brand value.

"We are truly honored to have earned Brand Keys' top ranking for coffee customer loyalty for six years running. This recognition speaks both to the renowned quality of our Dunkin' Donuts coffee and to the incredible dedication of our franchisees who work to provide our guests with an outstanding experience every day of the year. Through their efforts, our guests have developed a connection with the Dunkin' Donuts brand that is truly unique," said John Costello, Chief Global Marketing and Innovation Officer at Dunkin' Brands. "We remain committed to keeping America running with our great coffee, baked goods and snacks served in a friendly environment at a great value."

"The search for delight by the consumer comes down to a simple equation: understanding customer expectations, their desire for brand value, and packaging the two via the brand and product experience offered to customers. It's that last part that's difficult, and Dunkin' has continued to manage the brand, and the experience to meet customer desires – six years in a row. That the customer is delighted with the brand shows up in both the Brand Keys loyalty metrics and Dunkin's bottom line," said Robert Passikoff, founder and president, Brand Keys.

According to The NPD Group / CREST®, Dunkin' Donuts serves the most hot traditional and iced coffee in America, selling more than one billion cups of hot and iced coffee every year. Dunkin' Donuts uses 100% Arabica coffee beans, and the company's coffee specifications are recognized by the industry as a superior grade of coffee. There are almost 7,000 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in the United States and the District of Columbia and more than 10,000 restaurants in 32 countries worldwide.

To learn more about Dunkin' Donuts, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/DunkinDonuts) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/DunkinDonuts).

About Dunkin' Donuts

Founded in 1950, Dunkin' Donuts is America's favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin' Donuts is a market leader in the regular/decaf coffee, iced coffee, hot flavored coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories. Dunkin' Donuts has earned the No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for six years running. The company has more than 10,000 restaurants in 32 countries worldwide. In 2010, Dunkin' Donuts' global system-wide sales were $6 billion. Based in Canton, Mass., Dunkin' Donuts is a subsidiary of Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: DNKN). For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.

Contact(s):

Jessica Gioglio

Dunkin' Brands

781-737-5200

Jessica.Gioglio@dunkinbrands.com

SOURCE Dunkin' Donuts

Tootie Pie Company January Same Store Sales Up 23%

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Tootie Pie Company January Same Store Sales Up 23%

PR Newswire

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Tootie Pie Company, Inc. (OTCQB: TOOT) announced that its January 2012 same-store sales for its five Tootie Pie Gourmet Cafes were up 23% over January 2011. The Company also extended its consecutive monthly sales increases to 27 with sales increases in January.

Overall U.S. restaurant same-store sales were up an average of 2-3% for January, according to a recent Dow Jones story.

"This is our first opportunity to make same-store comparisons and the results show that, given just a short period of time, our Cafe model is working," said Don Merrill, President & CEO. "Customer surveys, from two different independent sources, indicate an almost 90% 'would recommend' on our Cafes and, considering we have really only been in this business for a year, I think that is outstanding."

The Company plans to open two additional Cafes in the coming weeks.

About Tootie Pie Co.

Tootie Pie Company bakes and sells high-quality, handmade pies through three basic sales channels: retail, corporate and wholesale. The retail segment serves individual customers through sales in its Tootie Pie Gourmet Cafes, in-store sales, orders via telephone and internet on the Company's website. The corporate segment serves businesses that purchase pies as a way to promote their company through client and employee appreciation programs. The wholesale segment is made up of national and regional broad line grocery and foodservice distributors who purchase pies and then resell them through their respective sales distribution channels. Tootie Pie Company is a public company traded on the OTCQB market under the symbol "TOOT." For additional information or to receive correspondence from Tootie Pie Company, please visit www.tootiepieco.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "expect," "should," "intend," "estimate," and "projects," variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not a forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are risks that are detailed in the Company's filings, which are on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Contact:
Carla Carter
Investor Relations
210.737.6600
Carla.Carter@tootiepieco.com

SOURCE Tootie Pie Company, Inc.

SGS Hosts McDonald's Food Safety Collaboration Panel at Global Food Safety Conference Feb. 17

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:09:00 +0000

SGS Hosts McDonald's Food Safety Collaboration Panel at Global Food Safety Conference Feb. 17

Session Will Address Role of Collaboration in Food Supply Chain; Registration Required

PR Newswire

FAIRFIELD, N.J., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SGS Food Services is hosting "McDonald's: Collaboration in Food Safety & Brand Protection," a breakfast session at the 11th Global Food Safety Conference in Orlando, Florida, from 7:45-8:45 am on Friday, February 17. Panelists from McDonald's Corporation, global and local suppliers, a scheme owner and a certification body will provide real-world examples and insights on the role of cooperation in creating a culture of food safety and brand protection from farm to front counter. Registration is required.

The session will be moderated by Steven Sklare, Sales Executive Food Safety Services, SGS, USA. Panelists will include:

Amy Wilcox, Manager Quality System, US Supply Chain Management, McDonalds, USA
Roger Bont, Global Quality Assurance Director, Corporate Food Safety and Regulatory Affairs, Cargill, USA
LeAnn Chuboff, Senior Technical Director, SQF Institute, USA
Raul E. Fajardo, VP, Global Quality, McCain Foods Ltd., USA
Kevin Edwards, Associate Director Food, SGS, USA

The session will be held at the site of the conference, the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando. Registration is available at http://tcgffoodsafety.com/pro/fiche/quest.jsp;jsessionid=743AD547A80DE3604EB9AA385423ABB6.gl1?pg2=registration&pg=gfsconf

SGS is a Premium sponsor of the conference, which runs from February 15-17. The annual event will bring together over 1,000 leading food safety specialists from over 60 countries to advance food safety globally. Conference registration is available at www.tcgffoodsafety.com

As part of its overall Food Services portfolio, SGS offers comprehensive third-party food safety services for the whole food supply chain from farm to fork. Programs include Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification services to ensure compliance with multiple food safety standards. The company's food safety experts will be available at Booth #24 throughout the Global Food Safety Conference to answer questions.

About SGS
SGS is the world's leading verification, testing and certification company. The company's comprehensive testing, product inspection, certification, training and technical services cover the entire supply chain in any given industry around the world. SGS' global network and expertise provide a single consolidated source that can help manufacturers, suppliers and retailers reduce risk, improve efficiency and product quality, ensure compliance to both national and international standards and manage sustainability. With more than 70,000 employees SGS operates a network of more than 1,350 offices and laboratories globally. For more information about SGS Food Services, visit www.foodsafety.sgs.com or email food@sgs.com.

SOURCE SGS Food Services

Project Launched to Save Water and Energy in California Restaurants

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:49:56 +0000

Project Launched to Save Water and Energy in California Restaurants

PR Newswire

DANVILLE, Calif., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridges Restaurant and Bar has long been an East Bay fine dining establishment. The restaurant is now hoping to be known as a pioneer in energy and water efficiency. As part of this effort, Bridges will install ultra-high efficient hybrid tankless water heaters, a novel approach to effectively meet the high demand for hot water restaurants face.

Bridges will host a pilot project designed by Demand Management Installation Services (DMIS) and the Food Service Technology Center, an energy efficiency program for foodservice funded by Pacific Gas and Electric Company. DMIS and FSTC will identify opportunities to reduce energy and water demands and also reduce wastewater the restaurant generates.

Fifteen percent of all natural gas consumed in California's commercial sector is used solely by commercial kitchens to heat water.

"We've made tremendous strides in residential hot water energy efficiency in recent years, and now we're ready to apply these newer technologies in demanding commercial settings," said Jason Hanleybrown, CEO of DMIS. "Restaurants can't survive without sufficient hot water. We've launched this pilot project to show foodservice establishments that they can save water, energy, and money through well-designed, efficient systems."

DMIS and the FSTC worked together to evaluate water and energy use and wastewater production at Bridges. This pilot aims to improve efficiency in water heating, water usage, wastewater generation, and energy usage. In California the annual operating costs associated with water, wastewater, and energy use of the hot water system can add up to $40,000 in large sit-down restaurants, a significant portion of a restaurant's operating costs.

"We help restaurants to identify the most efficient systems to best meet their needs," said Don Fisher, FSTC manager at the Food Service Technology Center. "Working with DMIS to help Bridges identify retrofit opportunities to make the restaurant more efficient will help it to save significantly on its utility bills."

Hybrid hot water heater manufacturer Eternal donated the equipment for this pilot project. A second project phase will take advantage of low-cost, high-yield water efficiency opportunities such as ensuring that all pre-rinse spray valves are the most efficient available. The goal is to illustrate that restaurants can – and should – adopt more efficient hot water systems.

For more information see www.dmi-serv.com and www.fishnick.com.

SOURCE Demand Management Installation Services

Chick-fil-A Achieves Record Annual Sales of $4 Billion

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Chick-fil-A Achieves Record Annual Sales of $4 Billion

Chain to Create Nearly 7,000 Jobs through Restaurant and Sales Growth

PR Newswire

ATLANTA, Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In continuing with its trend of strong sales performance, Chick-fil-A®, Inc. announces that it exceeded $4 billion in annual sales in 2011. A record for the Atlanta-based chain, annual system-wide sales at Chick-fil-A totaled $4,050,992,837, a 13.08 percent increase over the 2010 overall sales performance. The company also generated a healthy seven percent same-store sales increase and marked the 44th consecutive year of sales growth since the company began in 1967.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20020219/CHICKFILALOGO)

"Of all our years of sales growth, we are humbled and deeply grateful to our customers for making 2011 particularly exceptional," said Chick-fil-A President and Chief Operating Officer Dan T. Cathy. "We are blessed with a family of Operators and team members whose daily commitment to excellence and heartfelt, personalized service creates an atmosphere of hospitality that is unparalleled in our industry while also having a positive impact in the communities they serve. We believe the Chick-fil-A brand will remain vibrant as long as we remain focused on providing an experience that our guests love to brag about!"

In addition to a milestone year of sales performance, the Chick-fil-A chain celebrated a number of other business achievements in 2011:

Introduced two new products to the breakfast menu: the Chick-fil-A® Spicy Chicken Biscuit and Multigrain Oatmeal
Continued its strategic restaurant expansion efforts:
- Opened 92 new restaurant locations, including 75 stand-alone restaurants and 17 licensed locations (e.g. college campuses, hospitals, airports, businesses and industrial sites).
- Surpassed 1,600 total restaurant locations
- Celebrated the opening of the chain's Hollywood and Chicago restaurant locations
- Opened first stand-alone restaurant in Idaho market (Ammon, Idaho)
- Dedicated reinvestment resources to renovate nearly 200 of its existing restaurants
Continued innovative marketing strategies to fuel sales momentum, including a Breakfast Variety Giveaway promotion awarding more than 830,000 breakfast entrees to guests, as well as providing nearly 600,000 free meals to cow-clad customers during its annual Cow Appreciation Day event in July.
Recognized with top industry awards:
- 2011 Zagat National Fast Food Survey's "Top Large Chain"
- 2011 Consumer Reports' "Top Chicken Chain"
Presented 69 franchise Operators new vehicles as part of the chain's Symbol of Success sales incentive program. Through the program, franchisees are awarded a new Ford automobile of their choice for meeting individual annual sales goals.
Awarded nearly $1.6 million in college scholarships to Chick-fil-A restaurant team members, which brings the program total to nearly $30 million since its inception in 1973. Additionally, Chick-fil-A donated $200,000 in scholarship funds to the four schools participating in the Chick-fil-A Bowl and Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games.

What to Expect in 2012

New Job Creation: Chick-fil-A will generate nearly 7,000 new job opportunities in 2012 as a result of its new restaurant openings and existing restaurant growth.
New Product Introductions: In January, Chick-fil-A debuted one of the nation's most nutritious kids meals with the addition of the Grilled Chicken Nuggets entree option. The chain also enhanced its children's side offerings with the addition of Buddy Fruits® Pure Blended Fruit to Go applesauce, a complement to the existing fruit cup option. In April, Chick-fil-A will launch a new line-up of desserts, including a warm Chocolate Chunk Cookie, a Fudge Brownie, and Sundaes.
Restaurant Growth: Chick-fil-A will add 92 new locations around the country, including 75 stand-alone restaurants, two mall restaurants, and 15 licensed locations.
Restaurant Reinvestments: Chick-fil-A will also dedicate resources in 2012 to renovate more than 300 of its existing restaurant locations. These reinvestments reflect the company's commitment to continually enhance the guest experience and introduce new efficiencies that will help attract and accommodate greater sales volume.
Scholarship Donations: Chick-fil-A will award an additional $1.65 million in college scholarships to its restaurant employees.

About Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the nation's second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain (based on sales), with more than 1,600 restaurants in 39 states and Washington D.C. Credited with inventing the boneless breast of chicken sandwich and first introducing the chicken nugget concept, Chick-fil-A serves nutritious and freshly prepared food products in mall locations, stand-alone restaurants, drive-thru-only restaurants, Chick-fil-A Dwarf House® and Truett's Grill® full-service restaurants, and through licensed outlets in college campuses, hospitals, airports, businesses and industrial sites. More information about Chick-fil-A is available on the chain's websites, located at www.chick-fil-a.com/pressroom, or through Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChickfilA or Twitter: www.Twitter.com/ChickfilA.

SOURCE Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Whataburger Debuts Chicken Fajita Taco

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:10:00 +0000

So much good stuff, the tortilla can barely contain it.

SAN ANTONIO, TX, February 06, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Today, Whataburger is pushing the limits of what a single tortilla can hold with the launch of the Chicken Fajita Taco, the newest permanent addition to the Texas burger icon's menu.

This isn't your average taco. It's a chicken fajita done the Whataburger way - with a whole sliced grilled chicken breast, layered with roasted poblano and red bell peppers, and finished off with grilled onions. It's light, but loaded at the same time.

"The new Chicken Fajita Taco uses fresh ingredients and has a distinct flavor profile complementary of the fire-roasted pepper blend," said Whataburger Group Director of Marketing Rich Scheffler. "And at just 420 calories, the Chicken Fajita Taco offers customers a lower-calorie option - perfect for keeping those New Year's resolutions - but in a size that still satisfies."

With new burger options popping up across the U.S., Whataburger is known among its quick-service competitors for offering more choices and distinctive flavor combinations, and the Chicken Fajita Taco is no exception. Available a la carte or as part of a meal, the taco can be ordered with Whataburger's apple slices instead of fries for additional calorie savings.

A full menu of lower-calorie meals can be found at Whataburger.com.

ABOUT WHATABURGER: Visit www.whataburger.com for more information on the company. Become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/whataburger and follow the brand on Twitter @Whataburger.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Suzanne Miller or Tracy Aiello

SPM Communications

817-329-3257

spm@spmcommunications.com

tracy@spmcommunications.com

Meredith Hargrove

Corporate Communications

Whataburger Restaurants, LP

210-476-6403

mhargrove@wbhq.com

---

Press release service and press release distribution provided by http://www.24-7pressrelease.com

Show Us Your Heart! Dunkin' Donuts is Looking for Metro New York* Area Residents Who Are Making a Positive Difference

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:09:04 +0000

Show Us Your Heart! Dunkin' Donuts is Looking for Metro New York* Area Residents Who Are Making a Positive Difference

Share your story at GetDunkD.com; winning entry will receive a weekend getaway for two in New York City

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- February is known for all sorts of expressions of the heart, but do you know someone in the Metro New York* area who is showing true heart and making a real difference in their daily lives? Dunkin' Donuts, America's all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods, would like to honor these people through its "Show Us Your Heart" promotion. Simply tell Dunkin' Donuts about you or someone you know who is making a positive impact in people's lives or within the community by sharing your story at www.GetDunkD.com.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110224/NY53806LOGO )

The "Show Us Your Heart" contest, running on the "Metro NY Promos" tab on the Dunkin' Donuts Facebook page, encourages entrants to submit stories of people from all walks of life who are doing something special to impact the lives of those around them in a positive way. Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

Overall appeal: 50%
Adherence to contest theme: 25%
Originality and quality of answer: 25%

Entries will be accepted through February 28th and the winner will be announced on or about March 5th. For official rules: www.GetDunkD.com.

Prizes include:

One (1) Grand Prize: A 3 day/2 night getaway for two at a hotel in New York City including tickets to shows and local attractions
Five (5) First Prizes: Dunkin' Donuts prize pack including two (2) DD T-shirts, two (2) DD Mugs and 10 Large DD Coffees each for you and a loved one
Four (4) Second Prizes: Ten (10) Large Coffees

"This promotion is a perfect way to celebrate and 'Show Heart' to the people that keep our communities and neighborhoods running. Through our Get Dunk'D social media campaign on Facebook and Twitter, Dunkin' Donuts is engaging with our guests in the New York metro area* and offering them new and unique ways to connect with the brand," said Missy Maio, senior field marketing manager for Dunkin' Brands, Inc., Central Atlantic Region. "By telling their story, entrants are not only celebrating an important person in their life, but they have a chance to win some great prizes in the process."

The "Show Us Your Heart" contest coincides with the return of Dunkin' Donuts seasonal heart-shaped donuts. The Cupid's Choice Donut is a heart-shaped donut filled with Bavarian Kreme, topped with strawberry icing and a festive mix of pink, white and red heart-shaped sprinkles. The new Chocolate Heart Donut is a chocolate frosted heart-shaped donut with vanilla buttercreme filling, topped with chocolate chips. Both donuts will be available at participating Dunkin' Donuts restaurants nationwide through the end of February.

To learn more about Dunkin' Donuts, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/DunkinDonuts) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/DunkinDonuts).

*Participating restaurants include those in the following counties:

New York: Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester
New Jersey: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren
Connecticut: Fairfield

About Dunkin' Donuts

Founded in 1950, Dunkin' Donuts is America's favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin' Donuts is a market leader in the regular/decaf coffee, iced coffee, hot flavored coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories. Dunkin' Donuts has earned the No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for five years running. The company has more than 10,000 restaurants in 32 countries worldwide. In 2010, Dunkin' Donuts' global system-wide sales were $6 billion. Based in Canton, Mass., Dunkin' Donuts is a subsidiary of Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: DNKN). For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.

Contact:
Jim Furrer
RF | Binder
212-994-7559
jim.furrer@rfbinder.com

SOURCE Dunkin' Donuts

Oh, the Value of Sharing! Domino's Pizza Debuts Parmesan Bread Bites for Limited-Time Price of $1

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:41:00 +0000

Oh, the Value of Sharing! Domino's Pizza Debuts Parmesan Bread Bites for Limited-Time Price of $1

Brand new national campaign, launch of 'Think Oven' shows that great ideas can come from anywhere

PR Newswire

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Domino's Pizza (NYSE: DPZ), the recognized world leader in pizza delivery, couldn't decide what was more important: ridiculously strong value, or a delicious new product to be shared by the entire family. Beginning today, the verdict is in and the answer is both – shown by the launch of Parmesan Bread Bites, debuting at $1 for a limited time.

When ordering the popular, already-valuable two medium, two-topping pizzas deal for $5.99 each, consumers will be able to add 16 Parmesan Bread Bites for only $1 more. The bite (or two) size, brand new, permanent menu item is there for the sharing – which, based on the goodness of freshly baked bread topped with garlic and parmesan, may not be easy.

"We have an opportunity with Parmesan Bread Bites to offer extraordinary value, as well as give the entire family something shareable and delicious," said Patrick Doyle, Domino's Pizza president and chief executive officer. "To offer all of that for $1, coupled with the already-existing $5.99 offer, is truly value on top of value."

A national TV campaign beginning today, featuring Doyle, shows that Domino's is different from the others – welcoming ideas from just about anywhere.

Anywhere, in this case, is Findlay, Ohio – where Brian Edler, Domino's Pizza franchise owner, invented the concept of Parmesan Bread Bites, eventually working with Domino's chefs to make the product available in all of its nearly 5,000 stores nationwide.

"The new campaign shows the cool way in which this idea came about, and that great ideas helping make Domino's better can come from anywhere," said Russell Weiner, Domino's Pizza chief marketing officer. "Parm Bread Bites show that we continue to be committed to innovation and offering more menu choices for our fans and customers."

In addition, beginning today – in the continued spirit of ideas coming from anywhere – Domino's will debut Think Oven, an online suggestion box located on its facebook page. Fans and customers will have the opportunity to suggest great ideas – beginning with the first project, which will seek feedback and ideas on improving team member uniforms. To submit an idea or find out more, visit www.ThinkOven.com or the Domino's facebook page.

About Domino's Pizza®

Founded in 1960, Domino's Pizza is the recognized world leader in pizza delivery. Domino's is listed on the NYSE under the symbol "DPZ." As of the third quarter of 2011, through its primarily locally-owned and operated franchised system, Domino's operated a network of 9,541 franchised and Company-owned stores in the United States and over 70 international markets. During the third quarter of 2011, Domino's had global retail sales of nearly $1.6 billion, comprised of over $771 million domestically and nearly $813 million internationally. Domino's Pizza had global retail sales of over $6.2 billion in 2010, comprised of over $3.3 billion domestically and over $2.9 billion internationally.

In May 2011, Pizza Today named Domino's its "Chain of the Year" for the second straight year – making the company a three-time overall winner, and the first pizza delivery company to receive the honor in back-to-back years. In 2011, Domino's was ranked #1 in Forbes Magazine's "Top 20 Franchises for the Money" list. Helped by the launch of its Domino's Smart Slice school lunch pizza in late 2010, Domino's is collaborating with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to serve healthier school foods and beverages in the United States. In late 2009, Domino's debuted its "Inspired New Pizza" – a permanent change to its hand-tossed product, reinvented from the crust up.

Order - www.dominos.com
Mobile – http://mobile.dominos.com
Info - www.dominosbiz.com
Twitter - http://twitter.com/dominos
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/Dominos

SOURCE Domino's Pizza

CAP Index® President Calls for Redefinition of Workplace Violence at National Restaurant Association's Risk & Safety Managers 2012 Winter Meeting

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:15:00 +0000

CAP Index® President Calls for Redefinition of Workplace Violence at National Restaurant Association's Risk & Safety Managers 2012 Winter Meeting

PR Newswire

EXTON, Pa., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CAP Index® Inc. (http://www.capindex.com) -- the world leader in crime forecasting data and solutions -- announced today that its President and COO, Jon D. Groussman, JD, will be addressing the National Restaurant Association's Risk & Safety Managers 2012 Winter Meeting, being held in Las Vegas from February 7th - 9th, 2012.

Mr. Groussman is nationally recognized for advising private corporations and government entities on crime prevention strategies as well as post-incident response and analysis. He frequently provides expert forensic analysis in litigation charging negligent security.

As a keynote speaker on the topic of "Workplace Safety, Crime and Security Measures," Mr. Groussman will provide session attendees with his perspectives on:

Why Workplace Violence Must Be Redefined
The True Cost of Crime
Current Premises Security Liability Trends
How to Create a Corporate Security / Risk Matrix Strategy

According to security industry sources, more than 2 million people are victims of a physical attack in the workplace each year. Mr. Groussman believes that companies across all industries must re-evaluate how they define, prevent and respond to workplace violence. He notes that, "Workplace violence is not limited to the hi-consequence / low probability events that make the headlines once or twice a year. Workplace violence occurs every day, and comes in many forms. For example, it might involve disgruntled employees, displaced domestic violence, sexual harassment, 3rd party crimes or physical contact without injury."

Mr. Groussman said, "There are no simple solutions to workplace violence. The process of creating and implementing an effective security risk matrix takes time, involves the entire organization, and requires a data-driven approach to identifying risks and protecting the company's most important assets, which are its employees and customers."

About CAP Index:
Since 1988, CAP Index® has provided innovative solutions for companies and government agencies looking to minimize a broad range of losses, including shrink, general liability, fraud, lawsuits and crimes against persons and property.

CAP Index provides actionable crime forecasting data and maps, as well as loss mitigation solutions, to 81 of the Fortune® 100 Companies and other leading retailers, financial institutions, insurance companies and quick-service restaurant (QSR) chains in the U.S., the U.K. and Canada.

Contact:
Gordon G. Andrew
Highlander Consulting
gordon@highlanderconsulting.com
(908) 879-3800
Cell: (609) 987-0200

This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE CAP Index Inc.

Whataburger Debuts Chicken Fajita Taco

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:13:00 +0000

Whataburger Debuts Chicken Fajita Taco

So much good stuff, the tortilla can barely contain it

PR Newswire

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Whataburger is pushing the limits of what a single tortilla can hold with the launch of the Chicken Fajita Taco, the newest permanent addition to the Texas burger icon's menu.

A full menu of lower-calorie meals can be found at Whataburger.com.

ABOUT WHATABURGER: Visit www.whataburger.com for more information on the company. Become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/whataburger and follow the brand on Twitter @Whataburger.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Suzanne Miller or Tracy Aiello
SPM Communications
817-329-3257
spm@spmcommunications.com
tracy@spmcommunications.com

Meredith Hargrove
Corporate Communications
Whataburger Restaurants, LP
210-476-6403
mhargrove@wbhq.com

SOURCE Whataburger

Nathan's Famous, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Nathan's Famous, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results

PR Newswire

JERICHO, N.Y., Feb. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Nathan's Famous, Inc. (NASDAQ:NATH) today reported results for the third quarter of its 2012 fiscal year that ended December 25, 2011.

For the fiscal quarter ended December 25, 2011:

Net income was $1,211,000 or $0.24 per diluted share as compared to net (loss) of $(153,000) or $(0.03) per diluted share for the thirteen weeks ended December 26, 2010;
Non-GAAP earnings after tax, which exclude the litigation expense items described below, increased by 17.8% to $1,284,000 as compared to $1,090,000 for the thirteen weeks ended December 26, 2010;
Non-GAAP earnings per share, which exclude the litigation expense items described below, increased by 25.0% to $0.25 per diluted share as compared to $0.20 per diluted share for the thirteen weeks ended December 26, 2010; and
Revenues increased by 13.2% to $14,800,000, as compared to revenues of $13,079,000 during the thirteen weeks ended December 26, 2010.

For the thirty-nine weeks ended December 25, 2011:

Net income was $5,076,000 or $0.98 per diluted share as compared to $1,658,000 or $0.30 per diluted share for the thirty-nine weeks ended December 26, 2010;
Non-GAAP earnings after tax, which exclude the litigation expense items described below, increased by 6.5% to $5,292,000 as compared to $4,969,000 for the thirty-nine weeks ended December 26, 2010;
Non-GAAP earnings per share, which exclude the litigation expense items described below, increased by 14.6% to $1.02 per diluted share as compared to $0.89 per diluted share for the thirty-nine weeks ended December 26, 2010; and
Revenues increased by 15.2% to $51,815,000, as compared to revenues of $44,987,000 during the thirty-nine weeks ended December 26, 2010.

The Company also reported the following:

Sales from the Branded Product Program, featuring the sale of Nathan's hot dogs to the foodservice industry, increased by 28.6% to $29,843,000 during the thirty-nine weeks ended December 25, 2011 as compared to sales of $23,199,000 during the thirty-nine weeks ended December 26, 2010.
Sales and pre-tax profits from the five comparable company-owned restaurants were $11,218,000 and $2,207,000, respectively during the thirty-nine weeks ended December 25, 2011 as compared to $11,310,000 and $2,245,000, respectively during the thirty-nine weeks ended December 26, 2010.
Gross profit was 20.7% of sales as compared to 24.4% of sales during the thirty-nine weeks ended December 26, 2010 due primarily to the impact of unusually high beef costs on our Branded Product Program.
Retail license royalties increased by 9.1% or $442,000 to $5,307,000 during the thirty-nine weeks ended December 25, 2011 as compared to $4,865,000 during the thirty-nine weeks ended December 26, 2010.
Revenues from franchise operations increased by 8.7% or $341,000 to $4,265,000 during the thirty-nine weeks ended December 25, 2011 as compared to $3,924,000 during the thirty-nine weeks ended December 26, 2010. Fifty-six new franchised units were opened during the thirty-nine weeks ended December 25, 2011, including two restaurants in Canada, two restaurants in China, one restaurant in the Dominican Republic and one restaurant in Kuwait.
We have opened 40 Branded Menu Program units during the thirty-nine weeks ended December 25, 2011, including 29 locations within K-Mart. Our Branded Menu Program was created to provide qualified operators of existing locations with the ability to become a Nathan's franchisee, adding our signature products along with a limited-menu of other Nathan's products to their current operations.
The effective tax rate of 38.7% is approximately 5.8% higher than for the thirty-nine weeks ended December 26, 2010 when we earned higher tax-exempt interest income and resolved uncertain tax positions, reversing $79,000 of prior period accruals.
During the thirty-nine weeks ended December 26, 2010, we recorded a litigation accrual of $4,910,000, or $2,939,000, net of tax, as a result of the unfavorable SMG ruling, which at that time represented the minimum estimate of damages.
During the thirty-nine weeks ended December 25, 2011, we continued our stock repurchase program, acquiring 137,249 shares at a total cost of approximately $2,573,000.
As previously disclosed, on December 8, 2011, we launched a modified dutch tender offer to acquire up to 500,000 shares of common stock. We completed the offer in January 2012 by acquiring 598,989 shares, after electing to exercise our option to acquire an additional 2% of the outstanding stock at a cost of approximately $13,177,000 (or $22.00 per share), excluding fees and expenses. The results of this tender offer will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements during the thirteen weeks ending March 25, 2012.

As previously described with respect to our litigation with SMG, on April 7, 2011, the Court entered a stipulation and order which granted a stay of enforcement of the final judgment which is in the amount of approximately $4,910,000.

On March 4, 2011, Nathan's filed a notice of appeal seeking to appeal the final judgment. Throughout the duration of the appeal, Nathan's is required to deposit post-judgment interest on the damages awarded at 9% per annum into a security account. Nathan's has made these deposits and recorded interest expense of $335,000 or $200,000, net of tax, during the thirty-nine weeks ended December 25, 2011.

Certain Non-GAAP Financial Information:

In addition to disclosing results that are determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"), the Company has provided its Non- GAAP earnings and earnings per diluted share as adjusted for the litigation expenses described above, including the interest expense that has accrued during the appeals process through the end of the third quarter, that the Company believes impacts the comparability of its results of operations.

The Company believes that such non-GAAP financial information is useful to investors to assist in assessing and understanding the Company's operating performance and underlying trends in the Company's business because management considers the litigation expenses referred to above to be outside the Company's normal operating results. This non-GAAP financial information is among the indicators management uses as a basis for evaluating the Company's financial and operating performance.

The presentation of this additional non-GAAP financial information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or alternative to, earnings and earnings per diluted share determined in accordance with GAAP. Analysis of results and outlook on a non-GAAP basis should be used as a complement to, and in conjunction with, data presented in accordance with GAAP.

About Nathan's Famous

Nathan's products are currently distributed in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Cayman Islands and six foreign countries through its restaurant system, foodservice sales programs and product licensing activities. The Nathan's restaurant system currently consists of 302 units, comprised of 297 franchised units and five company-owned units (including one seasonal unit). For additional information about Nathan's please visit our website at www.nathansfamous.com.

Except for historical information contained in this news release, the matters discussed are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which are based on the current belief of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company's management. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the effect of business and economic conditions; the impact of competitive products and pricing; the ability to obtain an adequate supply of beef and other food products at competitive prices; capacity; the regulatory and trade environment; the risk factors and the forward-looking statements reported from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking statements.

Nathan's Famous, Inc. Financial Highlights
	Thirteen weeks ended		Thirty-nine weeks ended
	Dec. 25, 2011	Dec. 26, 2010	Dec. 25, 2011	Dec. 26, 2010

	(unaudited)		(unaudited)


Total revenues	$ 14,800,000	$ 13,079,000	$ 51,815,000	$ 44,987,000

Net income (loss)	$ 1,211,000	$ (153,000)	$ 5,076,000	$ 1,658,000

Basic income (loss) per share
Net income (loss)	$ 0.24	$ (0.03)	$ 1.01	$ 0.30

Diluted income (loss) per share
Net income (loss)	$ 0.24	$ (0.03)	$ 0.98	$ 0.30


Weighted-average shares used in computing income (loss) per share


Basic	4,964,000	5,352,000	5,022,000	5,506,000
Diluted	5,113,000	5,352,000	5,159,000	5,608,000

Nathan's Famous, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Measures
	Thirteen weeks ended		Thirty-nine weeks ended
	Dec. 25, 2011	Dec. 26, 2010	Dec. 25, 2011	Dec. 26, 2010

	(unaudited)		(unaudited)

NET INCOME (LOSS)
Net income (loss)	$ 1,211,000	$ (153,000)	$ 5,076,000	$ 1,658,000

Litigation accrual, (net of tax)	-	1,194,000	-	2,939,000

Legal expense (a), (net of tax)	6,000	49,000	16,000	372,000

Interest expense (b), (net of tax)	67,000	-	200,000	-

Non-GAAP income	$ 1,284,000	$ 1,090,000	$ 5,292,000	$ 4,969,000



DILUTED INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE
Net income (loss)	$ 0.24	$ (0.03)	$ 0.98	$ 0.30

Litigation accrual, (net of tax)	-	0.22	-	0.52

Legal expense (a), (net of tax)	-	0.01	-	0.07

Interest expense (b), (net of tax)	0.01	-	0.04	-

Non-GAAP income per share	$ 0.25	$ 0.20	$ 1.02	$ 0.89

(a) Represents legal expense incurred in connection with the SMG matter during the respective periods.

(b) Represents accrued interest expense incurred in connection with Nathan's appeal of the SMG damages award.

COMPANY	Ronald G. DeVos, Vice President - Finance and CFO
CONTACT:	(516) 338-8500 ext. 229

SOURCE Nathan's Famous, Inc.