Food

Panda Express Corporate Office

The Panda Restaurant Group is the owner and operator of Panda Inn, Panda Express, and Hibachi-San.

The company was founded in 1983 by Andrew and Peggy Cherng and Andrew’s father, Master Chef Ming Tsai Cherng. They are from the Yangzhou region of China and started their first restaurant in Pasadena, California.

In 1983 Donahue Schriber Real Estate invited the Cherngs to develop a fast-food version of their restaurant Panda Inn, and Panda Express was born.

The chain expanded rapidly and by 2007 the Panda Restaurant Group reached $1 billion in sales.

Panda Express offers Asian-themed food in high-traffic locations such as malls, airports, and sporting arenas.

Hibachi-San offers a quick-service Japanese grill menu.

Panda Inn offers full-service dining.

Today Panda Restaurant Group has 2,200 locations and is the largest Chinese fast-food chain in the United States.

In August 2023, the company pledged $2 million in donations to the victims of the wildfires in Maui, Hawaii.

Also in August 2023, a Lancaster, California, Panda Express urged patrons to get hepatitis A vaccinations after a food worker was found to be infected.

Panda Express maintains a corporate office in Rosemead, California.

Panda Restaurant Group

The Panda Restaurant Group is the owner and operator of Panda Inn, Panda Express, and Hibachi-San.

History

In 1983 Donahue Schriber Real Estate invited the Cherngs to develop a fast-food version of their restaurant Panda Inn, and Panda Express was born.

The chain expanded rapidly and by 2007 the Panda Restaurant Group reached $1 billion in sales.

Panda Express offers Asian-themed food in high-traffic locations such as malls, airports, and sporting arenas.

Hibachi-San offers a quick-service Japanese grill menu.

Panda Inn offers full-service dining.

Today Panda Restaurant Group has 2,200 locations and is the largest Chinese fast-food chain in the United States.

In August 2023, the company pledged $2 million in donations to the victims of the wildfires in Maui, Hawaii.

Also in August 2023, a Lancaster, California, Panda Express urged patrons to get hepatitis A vaccinations after a food worker was found to be infected.

Panda Express maintains a corporate office in Rosemead, California.

Blue Bell Creameries Corporate Office

Blue Bell Creameries was founded in 1907 as The Brenham Creamery Company. The creamery purchased extra cream from dairy farmers and sell butter. In 1911 the company began to produce ice cream, making only 2 gallons a day and delivering it via a horse-drawn cart.

The company was renamed Blue Bell in 1930 after the Texas Bluebell, a wildflower native to Texas.

By the 1960’s the company concentrated solely on the production of ice cream.

In 1980 Blue Bell was producing over 10 million gallons of ice cream per day and had $30 million in sales.

An Instagram video in June 2019, went viral when a young woman at a Walmart in Texas, was seen removing the lid on a gallon of Blue Bell ice cream, licking the top, replacing the lid and then placing the ice cream back in the freezer. The ice-cream licker was later identified as a 17-year-old minor.

This incident prompted several copy cat ice cream lickers, including a man in Louisiana. This prompted some stores to post security guards in front of ice cream freezers.

Today Blue Bell is the third-best-selling ice cream brand in the United States despite only being sold in 23 states.

The corporate office for Blue Bell ice cream is located in Brenham, Texas.

Blue Bell Creameries

The company was renamed Blue Bell in 1930 after the Texas Bluebell, a wildflower native to Texas.

History

By the 1960’s the company concentrated solely on the production of ice cream.

In 1980 Blue Bell was producing over 10 million gallons of ice cream per day and had $30 million in sales.

This incident prompted several copy cat ice cream lickers, including a man in Louisiana. This prompted some stores to post security guards in front of ice cream freezers.

Today Blue Bell is the third-best-selling ice cream brand in the United States despite only being sold in 23 states.

The corporate office for Blue Bell ice cream is located in Brenham, Texas.

California Pizza Kitchen Corporate Office

California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) was founded in 1985 by attorneys Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax.

The first location was on Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, California with an investment of $550,000. The company was an immediate success. By 1992 there were 26 restaurants in the chain.

In 1992 PepsiCo paid about $100 million for a 67% stake in the company.

PepsiCo began an aggressive expansion strategy, which proved to be a failure.

In 1997 private equity firm Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Company bought out PepsiCo’s two-thirds with the intention of taking the company public in 2000. They did so, and CPK was a public company, trading on the NASDAQ, from 2000 to 2011.

Another expansion was executed but it turned out that the people in charge were masking difficult financial information and were fired. Founders Rosenfield and Flax took over the company again.

In 2011 the company was acquired by private equity firm Golden Gate Capital.

Today California Pizza Kitchen has 265 casual-dining restaurants that specialize in pizzas with unique toppings and combinations, including duck, shrimp, pears, and salad.

California Pizza Kitchen

California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) was founded in 1985 by attorneys Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax.

The first location was on Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, California with an investment of $550,000. The company was an immediate success. By 1992 there were 26 restaurants in the chain.

In 1992 PepsiCo paid about $100 million for a 67% stake in the company.

History

PepsiCo began an aggressive expansion strategy, which proved to be a failure.

Another expansion was executed but it turned out that the people in charge were masking difficult financial information and were fired. Founders Rosenfield and Flax took over the company again.

In 2011 the company was acquired by private equity firm Golden Gate Capital.

Today California Pizza Kitchen has 265 casual-dining restaurants that specialize in pizzas with unique toppings and combinations, including duck, shrimp, pears, and salad.

Hardee’s Corporate Office

Wilbur Hardee opened his first restaurant in Greenville, North Carolina in 1960.

More restaurants were opened quickly through franchising and, on a smaller scale, acquiring other restaurant chains.

Hardee’s Restaurant served distinctive burger items, including the Huskee, a hamburger for 15 cents, a cheeseburger for 20 cents, fries, and milkshakes.

In the 1970’s Hardee’s expanded to Germany and Austria.

In the 1980’s the company had over 4,000 locations in the United States.

In the late 1980’s Hardee’s was bought by Imasco and the new management made decisions that had negative affects.

Ten years later, Hardee’s was down to less than 2,000 locations.

In 1997 the chain was bought by CKE Restaurants, the parent company of Carl’s Jr.

Today Hardee’s has 5,812 locations in 30 states, mostly in the Midwest and Southeast. About 475 of the restaurants are operated by the company, while the rest are franchised.

In early October 2020, the company introduced prime rib menu items in an attempt to gain customers.

In February 2023, the company introduced the Philly Cheesesteak to its menu.

The parent company maintains a corporate office in Franklin, Tennessee.

Hardee's

Wilbur Hardee opened his first restaurant in Greenville, North Carolina in 1960.

More restaurants were opened quickly through franchising and, on a smaller scale, acquiring other restaurant chains.

History

Hardee’s Restaurant served distinctive burger items, including the Huskee, a hamburger for 15 cents, a cheeseburger for 20 cents, fries, and milkshakes.

In the 1970’s Hardee’s expanded to Germany and Austria.

In the 1980’s the company had over 4,000 locations in the United States.

In the late 1980’s Hardee’s was bought by Imasco and the new management made decisions that had negative affects.

Ten years later, Hardee’s was down to less than 2,000 locations.

In 1997 the chain was bought by CKE Restaurants, the parent company of Carl’s Jr.

Today Hardee’s has 5,812 locations in 30 states, mostly in the Midwest and Southeast. About 475 of the restaurants are operated by the company, while the rest are franchised.

In early October 2020, the company introduced prime rib menu items in an attempt to gain customers.

In February 2023, the company introduced the Philly Cheesesteak to its menu.

The parent company maintains a corporate office in Franklin, Tennessee.

Sbarro Corporate Office

Gennaro and Carmela Sbarro opened an Italian grocery store named Salumeria in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York in 1956.

The Sbarro family opened more locations throughout New York City, and in 1970 the family opened their first restaurant.

From 1970 to 2007 Sbarro opened over 1,000 locations in 44 countries.

In 2007 Sbarro was acquired by MidOcean Partners, a private equity firm.

Today Sbarro restaurants are located in department stores, shopping malls, airports, service areas, cinemas, and college campuses.

The company operates about half of those locations, with the remaining half operated by franchisees.

In April 2022, it was reported that despite the war in Ukraine, some companies such as Hard Rock Cafe and Sbarro were still doing business in Russia.

In January 2023, it was announced that despite the pandemic, Sbarro opened a record number of restaurants in 2022.

Sbarro maintains a corporate office in Columbus, Ohio.

Sbarro

Gennaro and Carmela Sbarro opened an Italian grocery store named Salumeria in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York in 1956.

The Sbarro family opened more locations throughout New York City, and in 1970 the family opened their first restaurant.

History

From 1970 to 2007 Sbarro opened over 1,000 locations in 44 countries.

In 2007 Sbarro was acquired by MidOcean Partners, a private equity firm.

Today Sbarro restaurants are located in department stores, shopping malls, airports, service areas, cinemas, and college campuses.

The company operates about half of those locations, with the remaining half operated by franchisees.

In April 2022, it was reported that despite the war in Ukraine, some companies such as Hard Rock Cafe and Sbarro were still doing business in Russia.

In January 2023, it was announced that despite the pandemic, Sbarro opened a record number of restaurants in 2022.

Sbarro maintains a corporate office in Columbus, Ohio.