Prime Restaurants Announces Franchisees of the Year
…Prime’s Brand Excellence Award program recognizes 36 franchisees for operational excellence, innovation and performance…
Mississauga, ON – April 7, 2011 – Prime Restaurants of Canada Inc. recently announced the winners of its Franchisee of the Year awards and recognized other distinguished franchisees with Brand Excellence Awards at an awards dinner in Toronto’s Distillery District. All of the winners achieved outstanding scores for operational excellence, management innovations and financial performance.
Prime Restaurants’ three Franchisees of the Year achieved the highest overall total score for their respective brands – East Side Mario’s, Casey’s Grill • Bar and Prime Pubs - in Prime’s Brand Excellence program. The assessment includes semi-annual brand audits, an extensive secret shopper program, a comprehensive guest satisfaction component and participation in management, beverage, and culinary brand training programs.
“Our three Franchisees of the Year represent the gold standard for all franchisees,” says Grant Cobb, Senior Vice President, Brand Management for Prime Restaurants. “Their commitment to growing their businesses, achieving guest satisfaction while fostering their employees and supporting their communities is outstanding.”
Prime Restaurants awarded Franchisee of the Year to:
“The Brand Excellence Program is a significant component of the operating plans for each of our brands,” says Cobb. “The franchisees embrace the competition amongst their peers and without question the competition drives behaviour and results.”
Franchisees of the Year who score 80 per cent and higher on Prime’s operational audit, 80 per cent on Prime’s Secret Shopper Program and 80 per cent on Prime’s Guest Feedback forum received a Brand Excellence Award. This year there were: 16 Brand Excellence winners from East Side Mario’s; 15 Brand Excellence winners from Casey’s Grill • Bar; three Brand Excellence winners from Prime Pubs; and two Brand Excellence winners from Bier Markt.
To recognize their achievement, Brand Excellence Award Winners each received $5,000 and Franchisees of the Year received an additional $5,000 each.
About East Side Mario’s
East Side Mario's, a Prime Restaurants Inc. brand, has been providing guests with a fun experience since 1988. With 100 restaurants across the country, the East Side Mario's brand is well recognized as the place to bring the family or friends for great value, fun and of course delicious food. For more information visit eastsidemarios.com.
About Casey’s Grill • Bar
Casey’s Grill • Bar, a Prime Restaurants of Canada Inc. brand, is a franchised restaurant chain specializing in the casual dining sector. Established over 30 years ago, the chain currently has 34 restaurants in Ontario and Québec. Casey’s restaurant offers a contemporary dining experience with a variety of fresh, high-quality international cuisine and old favourites known as Casey’s Classics including Casey’s Classic Back Ribs, Casey’s Classic Chicken Wings and Casey’s Classic Bloody Caesar. Casey’s features casual dining prices in an environment that offers the perfect balance of comfort, style and energy. Visit www.caseysbarandgrill.com for more information.
About Prime Pubs
Prime Pubs is a family of 14 authentic Irish pubs operating under the trade-marks of Fionn MacCool's, D'Arcy McGee's, Paddy Flaherty's and Tir nan Óg. Prime Pubs serve traditional Irish fare made from authentic recipes that have been developed over generations as well as a selection of contemporary favourites. Interiors of Prime Pubs offer a warm and friendly environment and many pubs feature furnishings that have been imported directly from Ireland. For more information visit www.primepubs.com.
About Prime Restaurants Inc.
Prime Restaurants Inc. operates and franchises a diversified portfolio of leading brands of casual dining restaurants and premium pubs across Canada under such trademarks as: “East Side Mario’s,” “Casey’s,” “Fionn MacCool’s,” “D’Arcy McGee’s,” “Paddy Flaherty’s,” “Tir nan Óg,” “Bier Markt” and “Pat & Mario’s.”
Prime Restaurants is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol EAT. Visit www.primerestaurants.com for more information.
###
For more information please contact:
Katherine Clark
Cowan & Company
416-462-8773 ext. 55
katherine.clark@cowanandcompany.net
