Corporate Office

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company Corporate Office

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company was founded in 1852 by Italian immigrant Domenico Ghirardelli. Ghirardelli was apprenticed as a child to a candy maker. He continued to make and sell his own chocolate company after immigrating to the United States. The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is the third oldest chocolate company in America.

Today, the company is owned by Swiss chocolate makers Lindt and Sprungli. Although the parent company is based in Switzerland, Ghirardelli remains in the US, with headquarters in San Leandro, California.

One of the only chocolate makers in the US that controls every single aspect of the manufacturing process, the company uses only the finest seeds and rejects a full 40% of the cocoa seeds sent to them. Ghirardelli products are sold all over the world. In addition to candy, the company also offers drinks and sauces.

Ghirardelli Chocolate

History

Rip City Skates Corporate Office

Rip City Skates was founded by current owner and CEO Jim McDowell in 1978 in Santa Monica, California. The company operates a skateboard and roller skate shop. McDowell, originally believed that skateboarding would become a “legitimate sport”, but is now thankful that that did not happen.

The company offers a wide range of skateboards, decks, and wheels for customized boards, as well as stock boards. Rip City Skates considers themselves to be different from other sporting goods or department store skateboard shops as they sell only core products from manufacturers who are interested in quality over price.

Rip City Skates have a large collection of vintage boards that are mounted on the walls and ceiling. They also offer repairs and service, sportswear, and protection equipment, such as helmets and pads.

Rip City Skates

History

Brown & Cole Markets Corporate Office

Brown & Cole Markets was founded in 1909 by the Cole and Brown family. Some customers simply refer to the oldest supermarket chain in Washington state as simply “The Markets”. The company operates a chain of supermarkets under the names Brown & Cole, Cost Cutter, Food Pavillion, and Save On Food.

The company generally saves money by renting or purchasing store locations that have gone out of business. As of 2011, the company has 18 locations and 2,100 full time employees. Annual revenue in 2011 was $227.6 million. The company is still privately owned by the Cole family.

Brown & Cole Markets were forced to close several locations around the Yakima, Burlington, and Arlington areas due to fierce competition from Wal-Mart. The company provides health insurance and union benefits to its employees, while Wal-Mart does not.

Brown & Cole Sueprmarkets

History

PDQ Restaurants Corporate Office

PDQ was founded in 2009 in Tampa, Florida, by former Outback Steak House founder Bob Basham, and current CEO Nick Reader. PDQ originally stood for Pretty Damn Quick, but the company changed its mind fairly early and now states it means People Dedicated to Quality.

The company operates a chain of casual restaurants serving chicken, sandwiches, and hand-tossed salads. Currently, there are 60 locations, all company owned, in 11 states, with plans for expansion. Basham claims that each location averages $3 million in annual revenue.

In an April 2018 interview, Reader states that PDQ is doing a design overhaul, including a new logo and mascot.

PDQ is perhaps best known for their drive-thrus that have no speakers for ordering in advance. Food is prepared when it is ordered and not even a few minutes before. Employees quickly discover that restaurants do not have freezers. Ingredients are delivered daily and products are always fresh, not frozen.

Headquarters are located in Tampa, Florida.

PDQ

History

In an April 2018 interview, Reader states that PDQ is doing a design overhaul, including a new logo and mascot.

Headquarters are located in Tampa, Florida.

Pancheros Mexican Grill Corporate Office

Pancheros Mexican Grill was founded in 1992 by current owner and CEO Rodney Anderson. Anderson opened his first location across from the University of Iowa campus with money he earned in the stock market. The company then expanded to 10 more locations, all of them near college campuses.

Today, the company has more than 67 mostly franchised locations across the US. They are best known for their Tex-Mex style food, including tortillas made by hand at each location. With almost every location being open 24 hours, Sports Illustrated voted Pancheros the most popular restaurant to go to when the bars close down.

The company serves burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salad. In addition to fresh tortillas, the company makes its salsa, queso dip, and guacamole fresh at each restaurant each day.

Pancheros Mexican Grill

The company serves burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salad. In addition to fresh tortillas, the company makes its salsa, queso dip, and guacamole fresh at each restaurant each day.