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30 01, 2018

BurgerFi to Debut New Campaign Offering “BURGERS for Every 1”

2018-01-30T00:27:42-05:00January 30th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

NORTH PALM BEACH—PRNewswire

BurgerFi, among the nation’s fastest growing, award-winning better burger concepts, will launch a new marketing campaign which will feature the tagline “BURGERS for Every 1.” The campaign will focus on the company’s mission to serve only the top 1% of best-tasting certified, American Black Angus beef from the top ranches across the country. Known for delivering the all-natural burger experience in a fast-casual environment, the brand has a commitment to quality food that ensures no steroids, antibiotics, growth hormones, chemicals or additives are ever used.

The new advertising campaign, created by Rochester, New York-based agency Partners + Napier, highlights the fact that everyone has a niche and ability to excel in something and they deserve to celebrate what qualities make them unique with a burger that is special too. Creative assets will also correlate these qualities to specific burgers on the menu and feature fun, unexpected imagery and headlines. The unique alpha-numerical tagline is representative of both the top 1% of beef used by BurgerFi that “never-ever” contains hormones, antibiotics, steroids, or additives, and the perspective that BurgerFi restaurants will continue to serve the millions of one-of-a-kind guests.

From chef-driven menu items including their unrivaled certified angus craft burgers, their newest plant-based Beyond Burger, hand-cut fries and onion rings to Vienna hot dogs, frozen custard and shakes, BurgerFi offers guests an uncompromising and rewarding dining experience.

The “BURGERS for Every 1” campaign was inspired by the fact that only about 1% of the beef produced in the United States meets the strict BurgerFi standard of quality. We offer an experience that isn’t purely for “burger lovers” or “environmentalists” or “families” but for every unique individual who wants to reward themselves with something better,” said BurgerFi CEO Corey Winograd. “Our approach to every aspect of the BurgerFi experience – from the friendliness of our team to our sustainability efforts and fresh better burgers – is that guests can see and taste the difference.”

The campaign will begin rolling out on January 29 via national and local digital media, pre-roll video, radio, social media, billboards, email and in-store displays.

About BurgerFi

Established in 2011, BurgerFi is among the nation’s fastest-growing better burger concepts with over 100 restaurants. The concept was founded by gourmet chefs committed to serving fresh food of transparent quality. BurgerFi uses only 100% natural Angus beef patties with no steroids, antibiotics, growth hormones, chemicals or additives. BurgerFi was included in Inc. magazine’s Fastest Growing Private Companies List, #4 on Fast Casual’s 2017 Top 100 Movers & Shakers list, and ranked on Entrepreneur’s 2017 Franchise 500.

The company was also ranked as one of the top 10 fastest and smartest-growing brands in franchising and a leader in the better burger category by Franchise Times in their Fast and Serious list for 2017. Visit www.BurgerFi.com for more information.

To learn more about BurgerFi or to find a full list of locations, please visit www.burgerfi.com, ‘Like’ BurgerFi on Facebook, or follow @BurgerFi on Instagram and Twitter.

Media Contact:

Maru Acosta

Tilson PR

561-998-1995

macosta@tilsonpr.com

26 01, 2018

Planet Fitness Expands Global Footprint to Mexico

2018-01-26T23:00:56-05:00January 26th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

HAMPTON, NH— PRNewswire

Planet Fitness, Inc., one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S., today announced the upcoming opening of its first club in Monterrey, Mexico. The country’s first Judgement Free Zone® in Santa Catarina is expected to officially open this spring.

Planet Fitness has over 10.5 million members with clubs located in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, the Dominican Republic and Panama. Founded in 1992, Planet Fitness is known for the combination of its high-quality fitness experience, affordable prices, and hassle-free, non-intimidating environment known as the Judgement Free Zone®.

“We are excited to announce our entrance into Mexico as we continue to extend our footprint and expand our brand internationally,” said Chris Rondeau, chief executive officer of Planet Fitness. “We continue to see an increasing global enthusiasm for our brand and we look forward to entering this new market and introducing the Santa Catarina community to the Judgement Free Zone.®”

Each Planet Fitness location features the brand’s iconic “Lunk Alarm” – a purple and yellow siren on the wall used as a light-hearted reminder that grunting, dropping weights or judging others is not permitted. As a member appreciation gesture, Planet Fitness Santa Catarina will provide free pizza on the first Monday of every month and free sweet bread, known locally as pan dulce, on the second Tuesday of every month while supplies last – a reminder that it’s okay to treat yourself every once in a while after a good workout.

The Santa Catarina club will feature brand-name cardio and strength equipment, circuit training, fully-equipped locker rooms with day lockers and showers, numerous flat screen televisions and free small group fitness instruction by certified trainers. PF Black Card® members will have the ability to bring a guest at no additional charge and have access to HydroMassage® recliners, massage chairs, PF Cuts, and much more. JEG-Fit LLC, a Planet Fitness franchisee group since 2011, is the owner and operator of the Monterrey location and currently owns 19 locations throughout Arizona and Washington.

To find a Planet Fitness club or learn more about the Judgement Free Zone®, please visit PlanetFitness.com.

About Planet Fitness

Founded in 1992 in Dover, N.H., Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of September 30, 2017, Planet Fitness had approximately 10.5 million members and 1,432 stores in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada and the Dominican Republic. The Company’s mission is to enhance people’s lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone®. More than 95% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.

26 01, 2018

Rachel’s Kitchen Launches Revamped Charity Program

2018-01-26T23:02:21-05:00January 26th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

LAS VEGAS—RestaurantNews.com

Rachel’s Kitchen, a “fresh casual” restaurant concept that offers a carefully crafted menu, from the healthy to the indulgent, has expanded its Friends of Rachel’s initiative to include several additional charity organizations, bringing the total to 12 partner organizations. Most recently, Rachel’s Kitchen worked with the Vegas Strong 5K/1M, providing all the food at the event for the 2,750 runners who participated to remember those who lost their lives and to honor the survivors and first responders of the October 1, 2017 shooting; the event raised $65,000 in total.

As part of the Friends of Rachel’s program, Rachel’s Kitchen will donate a portion of the proceeds earned during a set amount of time to the selected partner organization. In doing so, the restaurant not only helps raise necessary funds, but also raises awareness for a variety of causes, ranging from education and animal causes to health advocacy and child care services.

“Friends of Rachel’s is how we give back to our neighbors and is our little contribution to making the world a better place, one neighborhood at a time,” Debbie Roxarzade, founder and CEO, said. “When I first opened Rachel’s Kitchen I knew giving back would be a part of our DNA and I’m so proud of the work we have done.”

When Roxarzade opened the doors of her first Rachel’s Kitchen, her goal was to serve fresh, high quality and great tasting food at affordable prices. In addition to bringing great food to the table, she wanted the restaurant to be an active community partner. Today, Rachel’s Kitchen is dedicated to giving back to the communities they serve through charitable giving at all levels of the company, from the corporate office to the franchise level.

Rachel’s Kitchen may be Nevada-based now, but the concept’s roots stretch all the way to the lap of luxury and taste of Beverly Hills. It’s here Roxarzade first made a name for herself, creating a number of celebrated restaurant concepts including Debbie’s Bistro, once recognized as one of Los Angeles’ “Big 10 Best New Restaurants.”

After the great success and notoriety of what were ultimately seven restaurants in Los Angeles, Roxarzade decided to relocate to Las Vegas and launch her newest venture – Rachel’s Kitchen. Named after her daughter, the first Rachel’s Kitchen was opened in 2006 – a quaint café featuring delicious and reasonably priced bistro fare.

The burgeoning brand offers a carefully crafted menu – from the healthy to the indulgent – using the freshest ingredients available, often locally sourced. Menu highlights include: Breakfast, Salads, Gourmet Sandwiches, Wraps and Juices. A combination of the walk up, carry out experience and a traditional sit-down restaurant, guests place their order at a counter using a wall mounted menu before retreating to a table where the food is brought directly to them, leaving them to comfortably enjoy their meal and a moment of serenity from whatever stresses the rest of their day may hold.

“Rachel’s Kitchen is successful because of the support we have garnered in our local community, and we want to pay it forward,” noted Roxarzade. “Friends of Rachel’s will be an integral part in any community we join as we continue expanding.”

About Rachel’s Kitchen

Launched in 2006 and franchising since 2008, Rachel’s Kitchen fulfills a niche segment in the restaurant space, transforming “fast casual” into fresh casual by focusing on wholesome food, with fresh ingredients, often locally sourced. With menu items ranging from healthy to indulgent, Rachel’s Kitchen is for everyone. Today there are eight restaurants open and operating in the Las Vegas Valley. For more information, visit www.rachelskitchen.com.

Contact:

Cami Fannin

Franchise Elevator PR

847-239-8171

cfannin@franchiseelevator.com

24 01, 2018

Sharkey’s Cuts For Kids To Donate Kids Salon to At-Risk Children in Hadera, Israel

2018-01-24T18:43:17-05:00January 24th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

WESTPORT, CT

A new and innovative Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids Therapeutic Kids Salon will be launched in 2018, in the Talpiot Children Village, situated in Hadera, Israel, and will serve the 200 children and youth at-risk residing there, and their families.

Talpiot is a non-profit organization whose mission is to reduce the number of at-risk children and youth in the region of Hadera and prevent risk situations in the family. Talpiot provides a comprehensive spectrum of community-oriented programs for the at-risk children and youth population and their families living in the region.

Thanks to the generosity and commitment of Scott Sharkey, this Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids salon will offer a fun-oriented, therapeutic experience for the children and for their families, in line with Talpiot’s unique child and family focused model for elimination and prevention of at-risk situations. It will serve as a unique and creative tool to strengthen the bond between at-risk children and their parents, to empower the entire at-risk family and thus contribute to the success of Talpiot’s mission to rehabilitate such families and return the children home.

The Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids Therapeutic Kids Salon will offer special activity programs for parents and children; recreational and creative art programs for the children; birthday parties; and joint activities with the community.

The Talpiot Village is situated in a quiet and pleasant residential neighborhood and includes: a full residential facility of ten foster family units (120 children); and an after school day care facility of six groups (90 children); a therapy center; arts and music center; adventurous outdoor park; zoo and animal petting; sports facilities ; and a community synagogue.

The children referred to the Village receive a warm, supportive and protective embrace, which entails a variety of specifically individualized therapies i.e.: individual and group therapy; music, drama, movement, art, animal petting, and photography therapies. They participate in specially structured activities with their parents, which aim to improve communication and empower the relationship between them.

They also enjoy recreational and enrichment activities in the afternoons i.e. scholastic reinforcement and homework assistance; excellence promoting activities; music education, choir, dancing, various sports, art, photography and drama.

The Village is the core project in the organization’s regional continuum of services for at-risk children and families. This continuum consists of some 16 different community services in the region, all based on the Talpiot family-focused care model, which impact some 1,000 children and families.

Talpiot Children Village

Hadera 38443 Israel

Tel: +972-7-32515151

Talp-hd@zahav.net.il

Talpiot.net

Sharkey’s Franchising Company

Westport, Connecticut 06880

Tel: (203) 637-8911

info@Sharkeyscutsforkids.com

SharkeysFranchisingCompany.com

24 01, 2018

National Survey by Leading In-Home Senior Care Provider Explores Seniors’ Tech Habits

2018-01-24T19:21:19-05:00January 24th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

BALTIMORE, MD—PRNewswire

The technology divide between older and younger generations may not be as wide as you think. According to a recent survey of 1,000 seniors issued by Senior Helpers®, the nation’s premier provider of in-home senior care, more than 68 percent of people ages 65+ rate their technology skills either average or above average. The survey, which examined seniors’ attitudes on everything from apps and internet usage to social media habits, also found that while most would not consider themselves “tech-savvy” (71 percent), nearly 60 percent of seniors think younger generations underestimate their knowledge and aptitude for technology.

“Technology is constantly evolving, but seniors are much more adept at using tech than many people give them credit for,” said Peter Ross, CEO and co-founder, Senior Helpers. “It’s become integral to so many other aspects of their lives, they are embracing it.”

The study findings show that about 39 percent of seniors utilize technology to help them get things done more efficiently, while 31 percent embrace it as a matter of “pure survival.” Senior Helpers’ survey also highlights more about how senior citizens are using technology:

When asked what tech innovation they couldn’t live without, 29 percent of senior respondents reported a cell phone. Most (nearly 70 percent) use a smart phone, and 38 percent use an iPhone. However, 13 percent still don’t own a cell phone.

TV followed closely at 27 percent, with iPad/tablet (almost 11 percent), CD/MP3 players/stereos (6 percent) and GPS (4.5 percent) trailing further behind.

Thirty-two percent of seniors spend more than 20 hours a week on the internet, with 10 percent of those online for 40-plus hours per week.

More than half of seniors use Facebook as their social media site of choice. Less than 8 percent of seniors combined favor Pinterest, Instagram or Twitter.

When it comes to app usage, seniors use social media apps the most (almost 23 percent), followed by maps/navigation services (17 percent), online banking (14 percent) and games (8 percent).

When asked in a lighthearted way what movie best describes their relationship with technology, 28 percent of participants said Beauty and the Beast “because they had to warm up to it.” Another 28 percent noted Mission Impossible because they “can’t keep up.” Others likened it to Fight Club, admitting they “don’t like it but use it” (24 percent); or Cheaper by the Dozen, appearing to welcome technology (“Give me more gadgets!” at 19 percent).

Founded in 2001 with a vision to help seniors who wish to remain in their homes – despite age-related illnesses and mobility challenges – Senior Helpers serves elderly individuals and their families around the world. Senior Helpers differentiates itself with its proprietary, specialized programs that have been developed in collaboration with leading medical experts. The company was the first provider in the industry to offer specialized care services for individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

For more information about Senior Helpers, visit http://www.seniorhelpers.com.

About Senior Helpers 

Senior Helpers is a premier in-home senior care provider in the U.S. with over 311 franchised businesses operating across the globe. Founded in 2001 with a vision to help seniors who wish to remain in their homes despite age-related illnesses and mobility challenges, Senior Helpers has now cared for tens of thousands of seniors with a pledge to provide “care and comfort at a moment’s notice.” Senior Helpers offers a wide range of personal care and companion services, including trained Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s care, to assist seniors who wish to live independently. Learn more by visiting http://www.seniorhelpers.com.

24 01, 2018

Realty ONE Group Launches Billboard Campaign in New York City’s Time Square

2018-01-24T18:45:12-05:00January 24th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

IRVINE, CA—GLOBE NEWSWIRE

Realty ONE Group, the fifth-largest independent real estate brand and one of the fastest-growing real estate franchisors in the nation, has launched its largest advertising campaign to date with a historic media blast throughout New York City’s iconic Times Square district.

This historic advertising campaign will connect Realty ONE Group with thousands of real estate professionals, while simultaneously bringing high-level attention to the brand’s “coolture” and untraditional business model. The campaign is also pushing the envelope as it correlates with the start of Inman Connect, an industry conference of more than 4,000 real estate and technology professionals hosted at Marriott Marquis Times Square, Jan. 22-26, 2018.

“No real estate company has ever booked multiple screens at this exclusive location, and we are thrilled to be the first,” said Kuba Jewgieniew, CEO and founder of Realty ONE Group. “The content features real people, which is a critical objective for us – to connect with everyday real estate professionals and help them evolve into the rock stars of the industry.”

The advertising campaign includes five unique 15-second videos that will broadcast on digital billboards above Times Square – and the conference itself – a total of 20,000 times during the week. It is the largest coordinated advertising campaign in Times Square ever purchased by a real estate company.

Based in Irvine, Calif., Jewgieniew has built Realty ONE Group into a national company of more than 110 locations and 10,000 real estate professionals who generated a total of $21 billion in sales volume in 2017. A key factor in its success is the company’s YOU-First Focus—putting their real estate professionals first by engaging in high-tech partnerships, providing industry-leading branding support, and a unique and untraditional business model.

“We know how important these real estate conferences are for agents who are looking to expand their networks, so we are positioning ourselves to be as accessible as possible,” Jewgieniew added. “Real estate professionals know that they can and will benefit from our UNbrokerage business model, and that no other real estate company offers a company COOLTURE that focuses on having fun while being successful.”

Very recently, Realty ONE Group was ranked by Entrepreneur magazine as a Top 5 real estate franchise in the publication’s Franchise 500 list. Swanepoel Power 200 also named Jewgieniew one of the Top 20 most powerful people in the residential real estate brokerage industry, as well as the Top 5 SP 200 Power Brokers.

About Realty ONE Group

One-hundred percent family-owned and debt-free, Realty ONE Group was founded in 2005 and is proudly known as the industry’s premier UNbrokerage. Realty ONE Group has rapidly evolved with over 10,000 real estate professionals in 110 offices across 26 states. Ranked in the top one percent in the nation by REAL Trends, recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top 5 Real Estate Franchise, and landing a coveted spot on the Inc. 500 Fastest-Growing Companies list for seven consecutive years, Realty ONE Group has been surging ahead, opening doors, not only for its clients but also for its real estate professionals and franchise owners. To learn more about the UNbrokerage, visit www.realtyonegroup.com/unbrokerage/. If you are interested in learning about owning a franchise, visit http://ownaone.com/

23 01, 2018

SERVPRO® Extends PGA Tour Sponsorship through 2020

2018-01-24T18:46:30-05:00January 23rd, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

GALLATIN, TN—Marketwired 

SERVPRO has extended its sponsorship with the PGA Tour through the 2020 season, retaining its designation as the official cleanup and restoration company of both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour according to Sue Steen, Servpro Industries, Inc., chief executive officer. SERVPRO’s first event of the 2018 PGA Tour season tees up this week with the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course.

“The entire SERVPRO family is proud to be associated with the prestigious and well-respected PGA Tour,” said Steen. “This sponsorship allows us to showcase our capabilities not only to the communities where PGA events are held, but also to the huge television and online audience that follows the Tour. Both individual property owners and commercial facility owners will have the opportunity to learn about SERVPRO and the services offered as they enjoy watching the world’s best players compete on the world’s most beautiful golf courses.”

Steen reveals that SERVPRO will have a presence at several PGA Tour tournaments in 2018, including The Players Championship and The TOUR Championship. “In addition, we plan to be involved with First Responder events throughout the PGA Tour year,” said Steen.

“SERVPRO is a national leader and provider of fire and water cleanup and restoration services, but each SERVPRO Franchise is a local business, operated by a local business person with ties to the community he or she serves,” says Steen. “The wide and growing audience the PGA Tour commands will learn a SERVPRO professional is available in their local community, ready to respond at a moment’s notice if things go wrong at their home or business.”

SERVPRO specializes in disaster restoration, cleanup and repair services, helping to remediate damage, making it “Like it never even happened” for both commercial and residential customers. For more information on SERVPRO please visit www.servpro.com/.

About SERVPRO®

Founded in 1967, the SERVPRO® Franchise System is a leader and provider of fire and water cleanup and restoration services and mold mitigation and remediation. SERVPRO’s professional services network of more than 1,700 individually owned and operated Franchises responds to property damage emergencies ranging from small individual disasters to multi-million dollar large-loss events. Providing coverage in the United States and Canada, the SERVPRO® System has established relationships with major insurance companies and commercial clients, as well as individual homeowners.

Contact:

Kim Kramer Brooks

Corporate Communications Coordinator

Servpro Industries, Inc.

(615) 451-0200 ext. 1644

kbrooks@servpronet.com

23 01, 2018

How Sweet it is: Build-A-Bear Workshop® Unveils ‘Sweet Shop’ Valentine’s Day Gifts with Heart and Charitable Partnership with Make-A-Wish®

2018-01-24T19:18:49-05:00January 23rd, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

ST. LOUIS, MO—PRNewswire

Love and hugs abound at Build-A-Bear Workshop®, Inc., an interactive destination where Guests can create personalized furry friends, as the company unveiled a new collection of Valentine’s Day gifts that are sweeter than ever.

Build-A-Bear Workshop® today announced a new collection of Valentine’s Day gifts that are sweeter than ever, including Make-Your-Own Sugar Scent™ furry friends that feature a sugar-scented fragrance.

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate the special people in your life – from your “better half” to your children to your best friends. At Build-A-Bear Workshop, you can make your own sweet Valentine’s Day gift – and a memory – to cherish together, complete with:

The signature Build-A-Bear Workshop heart ceremony, where you and your Valentine make a wish on a heart and place it inside your furry friend.

The opportunity to add a heartfelt message to any Build-A-Bear furry friend with a Personalized Record Your Voice™ sound chip, sharing your sentiment.

A variety of classic teddy bears, furry friends and licensed characters to choose from, with outfits and accessories that are Cupid-approved.

Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice

The new Make-Your-Own Sugar Scent™ furry friends are cuddly (calorie-free) “treats” featuring a fragrance that gets sweeter with each hug. Sugar Scent Hearts Kitty™ is a friendly 16-inch feline with adorable hearts on its fur that can be customized with a tutu, pink cupcake accessory and more. 16-inch Sugar Scent Tiny Hearts Bear™ features white fur covered in pink hearts and can be dressed in a heart skirt set and plush heart lollipop. Sugar Scent Pup™ is a 16-inch playful pup with black and white fur and adorable eyes. Add a blue “HUGS” hoodie for even more puppy love.

Each Sugar Scent furry friend is available for purchase separately in Build-A-Bear Workshop stores and online, or as part of a gift set that includes an outfit and accessories, such as a plush cupcake or lollipop, at buildabear.com. The sugar-scented fur is made possible by Celessence™ Technologies microencapsulation.

With a heart-shaped texture on its fur, the Red Hot Red Hearts Bear (available in select stores and online) is ready for hugs. An online-exclusive version of this furry friend – available at buildabear.com – can be personalized with up to three lines of embroidered text to share a message with someone special. For even “bigger” fun, check out the 3-foot Jumbo Red Hot Red Hearts Bear – available in select Build-A-Bear Workshop stores and online – as well as the online-only Personalized Jumbo Red Hot Red Hearts Bear.

Dressed to Impress: Say It with a Cute Costume

If your loved one deserves a gift that’s extra hug-worthy, a teddy bear dressed in a Cupid Costume (available online and in select stores) or the online-only Knight in Shining Armor Costume is sure to have them love-struck. The entire Build-A-Bear Workshop Valentine’s Day collection – including a Chocolate Covered Strawberry Costume – is available at buildabear.com.

Hopping for Hugs

The mischievous Peter Rabbit just hopped into Build-A-Bear Workshop stores and buildabear.com for the first time ever – weeks ahead of the release of the Peter Rabbit film! Beloved by generations of fans, this adorable furry friend loves nothing more than a good adventure. Plus, you can add Peter Rabbit’s signature blue jacket and 5-in-1 phrases – voiced by actor James Corden – to this special movie-edition bunny.

“Win” on Valentine’s Day with Gifts for your Sports-fan Sweetheart

From the NFL and NBA to over 50 college teams and more, Build-A-Bear Workshop has the perfect gift for your sports-fan Valentine. With official, team-branded furry friends – plus complementary uniforms and accessories – you can create an “athlete” that’s personalized (you can even add your voice or a favorite scent!) just for your Valentine’s Day “teammate.” Licensed sports products are available in select stores and at buildabear.com.

Charitable Gifts with Heart: Make a Donation to Make-A-Wish® at Build-A-Bear Workshop

Now through Feb. 15, 2018, U.S. Guests of Build-A-Bear Workshop can support Make-A-Wish® by making a donation in stores or online. All donations will go directly to Make-A-Wish and help grant wishes of children with critical illnesses, which can help them build physical and emotional strength.

For more information, visit buildabear.com and follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

About Build-A-Bear

Founded in St. Louis in 1997, Build-A-Bear, a global brand kids love and parents trust, seeks to add a little more heart to life. Build-A-Bear Workshop has approximately 400 stores worldwide where Guests can create customizable furry friends, including company-owned stores in the United States, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and China, and franchise stores in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Mexico and the Middle East. The company was named to the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the ninth year in a row in 2017. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) posted a total revenue of $364.2 million in fiscal 2016. For more information, visit buildabear.com.

About Make-A-Wish

Make-A-Wish® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the world’s largest wish-granting organization, serving children in more than 50 countries on five continents. With the help of generous donors and more than 32,000 volunteers worldwide, Make-A-Wish grants a wish somewhere in the world every 21 minutes on average. Since 1980, it has granted more than 350,000 wishes to children around the world. For more information about Make-A-Wish International, visit worldwish.org and for more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org.

Contact:

Maria Lemakis

Build-A-Bear Workshop

(314) 423-8000, ext. 5367

MariaL@buildabear.com

23 01, 2018

Church’s Chicken® Helping to Serve Communities Across Puerto Rico

2018-01-24T18:48:52-05:00January 23rd, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

ATLANTA, GA—PRNewswire

While the northeast United States braces for record-breaking winter storm conditions, residents of Puerto Rico are still struggling to return to life-as-usual two months after Category 5 Hurricane Maria devastated the island on September 20th. As of the beginning of 2018, more than 70% of residents still do not have electric power, and more than 250,000 homes that were destroyed have yet to be rebuilt. Thankfully, Church’s Chicken® has been a consistent bright spot for the people of Puerto Rico, thanks to the diligent efforts of its local franchisee, South American Restaurants Co. (SARCO). The group, which operates 110 Church’s restaurants on the island now reports that 98% of locations are open for full service – providing much-needed hot, hearty meals and clean drinking water to the thousands in need.

While many businesses have either closed or are waiting for the island to recover before resuming operations, SARCO has been active in rebuilding efforts since day 1 after the hurricane. “Following the storm, the very next day, we had people here in the office eager to go back to work at the restaurant,” explained Felipe Flores Rolón, Senior Vice President of Marketing for SARCO. “That was both exciting and unexpected – the level of commitment from our many restaurant employees. We all live here, so this is our community as well. As restaurants opened, our commitment was to serve the people—first, by having food and second, by being a place where families could come together. The food is a necessity and the place to come together is an anchor of normalcy – both give you the peace of mind and strength to go on. That is how Church’s and the people of Puerto Rico have survived and how we will all continue to rebuild together.”

The SARCO group, which has been in Puerto Rico for nearly 40 years, made several decisions along the way to prepare their restaurants for hurricane conditions that are common in the Caribbean from June through November each year. In doing so, 10 Church’s Chicken restaurants were re-opened the day after Hurricane Maria hit, and other restaurants quickly followed suit. SARCO also came to the aid of its community in the true Church’s spirit of “Stepping Up” and “Doing the Right Thing” by donating 35,000 hot meals, 120,000 bottles of water, and 50,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

“SARCO is one of the largest and most respected franchisees in our system,” said Tony Moralejo, Executive Vice President of International Business for Church’s Chicken/Texas Chicken. “Their mission is ‘To Serve Happiness in Every Meal’ and I can think of no greater demonstration of that commitment than their investment in backup generators, alternate water supplies, and programs to help displaced employees.”

“We are a brand built on doing the right thing for our employees and our communities in good times, and even more so during tough times,” said Joe Christina, Chief Executive Officer for Church’s. “The team at SARCO invested heavily in infrastructure for those ‘what if’ scenarios – and that planning has secured jobs and access to quality food in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of this extremely difficult hurricane season. I commend the entire team for their leadership and sense of urgency to do the right thing by securing the safety and welfare of our employees and their families– ultimately getting us back to business quickly and safely. In my career, I’ve never seen such an excellent example of working together.”

 About South American Restaurants Corporation (SARCO)

Church’s Chicken® Puerto Rico is operated by South American Restaurants Corporation, a company of the Larrea Group.   This local Group manages several restaurant chains on the island since 1978. The first Church’s restaurant on the island opened its doors in 1978 in the city of Bayamón. Puerto Rico is the only market in the world where the Church’s® chain occupies the leading position in the chicken restaurant segment. Church’s® is distinguished by its selection of fresh chicken empanadas with the unique flavor of chicharrón and its honey butter biscuits, as well as its wide menu of fresh products of the highest quality, including breakfast. Church’s mission is: “Serve joy at every meal.”

About Church’s Chicken®

Founded in San Antonio, TX in 1952 by George W. Church, Church’s Chicken® is one of the largest quick service restaurant chicken chains in the world. Church’s® specializes in Original and Spicy Chicken freshly prepared throughout the day in small batches that are hand-battered and double-breaded, Tender Strips®, honey-butter biscuits made from scratch and freshly baked, and classic, home-style sides all for a great value. Church’s® (along with its sister brand Texas Chicken® outside the Americas) has more than 1,600 locations in 27 countries and international territories and system-wide sales of more than $1 billion. For more information about Church’s Chicken® or Texas Chicken® franchising opportunities, visit http://www.churchs.com/franchise_get-started.php. For more information about Church’s Chicken visit www.churchs.com. Follow Church’s® on Facebook at www.facebook.com/churchschicken and Twitter at www.twitter.com/churchschicken.

Contact: Peyton Sadler

866.571.3449

Peyton@inklinkmarketing.com

22 01, 2018

Dear Subway, Love Freshii, An Open Letter.

2018-01-24T18:49:36-05:00January 22nd, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

CHICAGO, IL—GlobeNewswire

Freshii Inc., the fast-growing health and wellness brand, has released an open letter to Subway (Doctor’s Associates Inc.). Highlighting the recently reported Subway franchise partner frustrations, the letter offers a sincere proposal to Subway that aims to reignite their franchise partners’ entrepreneurial spirits. The solution proposed to Subway seeks their assistance in transitioning select Subway franchise partners to the Freshii brand – which represents the next generation of healthy food –  while allowing both Freshii and Subway to continue delivering on their missions to provide healthy food, globally.

Dear Subway,

Can we talk? Major US press outlets have reported that in 2017, over 900 Subway locations closed, your store traffic decreased by 25% in the last 5 years and your franchise partners are upset, recently signing a petition protesting the $4.99 footlong promotion.

“As a business owner you’ll be in a constant race against an ever-improving marketplace.”  These are the words of Fred DeLuca, the late, great Founder and CEO of Subway Restaurants and the pioneer of healthier fast food in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

At Freshii, we share Fred’s passion for the entrepreneurial spirit and the mission to serve fresh food, globally. As Freshii’s Founder & CEO, I am grateful to have met Fred and call him an inspiration.

Fred’s trailblazing spirit taught us a lot. Freshii is now the fastest-growing global restaurant brand; we opened our first several hundred restaurants faster than McDonald’s, Dominos and even Subway. Our 18 consecutive quarters of strong same store sales growth are a testament to this and have helped our franchise partners grow their sales and profits. We operate in over 15 countries today – and we are growing!

We have a sincere proposal to help Subway appeal to the next generation of fresh food lovers and your franchise partners globally.

Rather than risking the closure of another 900 Subway stores in 2018, let’s explore a partnership. Let’s work together to convert select Subway stores to Freshii restaurants. This will allow Freshii and Subway to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome: supporting entrepreneurial franchise partners and continuing to deliver on our missions.

Over time, we too plan to open thousands of restaurants around the world as we continue to deliver on our mission of making healthy food convenient and affordable for all citizens of the world. But we could get there faster together.

By allowing some of your franchise partners to convert now, we believe you’ll be creating a better business future for them.  You’ll also be improving the future of your remaining franchise partners who will continue to operate their Subway restaurants in a less crowded marketplace. The health of the overall Subway system will be improved.

Will this work?  We’ve already helped dozens of franchise partners from many iconic restaurant brands and global sandwich shops become successful Freshii partners—by either converting their stores or bringing the Freshii brand into their portfolio. They’re feeling re-energized as they become part of a restaurant brand built for today’s generation.

If you share Fred’s dream, you’ll be excited to share ours. If you share Fred’s passion, we’ll get along like kale and quinoa.  Fred liked to spend time in our Freshii restaurants, sampling our menu and witnessing firsthand the creativity, passion and entrepreneurial spirit that makes us special.  I hope your leadership team and franchise partners around the world will do the same, now!

Visit www.freshii.com/dearsubway to learn more about this opportunity.

I want your consent and I hope to hear from you soon. As Fred liked to say, “Opportunity waits for no one!”

Matthew Corrin

Founder & CEO

dearsubway@freshii.com

About Freshii

Eat. Energize. That’s the Freshii mantra. Freshii is a health-casual restaurant brand that serves fresh food designed to energize people on the go. With a diverse and completely customizable menu of breakfast, soups, salads, wraps, bowls, burritos, frozen yogurt, juices and smoothies served in an eco-friendly environment, Freshii caters to every taste and dietary preference.

Since it was founded in 2005, Freshii has opened hundreds of restaurants in cities and countries around the world. Freshii can be found in all location types from cosmopolitan cities, college campuses, suburban neighborhoods and malls to fitness clubs, airports and small towns.

Inquire about how to join the Freshii family: https://freshii.com/us/franchising.

Learn more about investing in Freshii: http://ir.freshii.com.

Learn about the Freshii brand: https://vimeo.com/195658178.

Find your nearest Freshii: http://www.freshii.com.

Follow Freshii on Twitter and Instagram: @freshii

For further information contact: 

Melissa Gallagher

melissa.gallagher@freshii.com

647.302.7241

Adelaide Johnson

adelaide.johnson@freshii.com

416.894.2912