ATLANTA, April 12, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Popeyes(r) Chicken & Biscuits, a division of AFC Enterprises, Inc. (Ticker: AFCE), announced its annual franchise and supplier awards at its worldwide conference held last month in New Orleans, the company's birthplace. The brand honored franchisees with two Gold Plate Awards, eight Silver Plate Awards and a Re-imaged Restaurant Award in recognition of their 2003 performances. Popeyes also awarded one Gold Plate Award to a company-owned restaurant, a Supplier of the Year Award, a Developer of the Year Award and a Distinguished Distributor Award.
The Gold Plate Award is the most coveted award given by Popeyes management. It is based on a complete inspection of Silver Plate Award winners' restaurants to choose the best of the best by confirming overall operations excellence, positive restaurant image and effective usage of Popeyes training tools.
The franchise Popeyes restaurants honored with the 2004 Gold Plate Award are:
-- B.P. Newman Investment Co. in Laredo, Texas. -- Grupo Proalimex in Monterrey, Mexico.
This year's company-owned Gold Plate Award winner is:
-- The Popeyes restaurant in Alpharetta, Ga.
The franchise Popeyes restaurants awarded the Silver Plate Award in 2004 are:
-- Amco Foods, Inc. in Barstow, Calif. -- Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) in Oahu, Hawaii. -- B.P. Newman Investment Co. in Laredo, Texas. -- Grupo Proalimex in Monterrey, Mexico. -- Haimarrow Inc. in Seoul, Korea. -- Interpollo Inc. in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. -- Janjer Enterprises in Centreville, Va. -- Mascott Corporation in North Brunswick, N.J.
"These Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits restaurants represent the best of our franchise system," said Dick Holbrook, interim president of Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits. "The managers and employees at these restaurants work hard to achieve this level of quality, and it is an honor for us to reward their collective effort."
Popeyes also named San Francisco's Ellen Hui the Popeyes Domestic Franchise Partner of the Year and Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) the International Franchise Partner of the Year.
"Ellen Hui and AAFES are leaders in our system, and their feedback and commitment to excellence helps shape our vision and growth," Holbrook said.
In addition, Popeyes named Fast Foods of Colorado Springs' restaurant in Colorado Springs, Colo., as its Re-imaged Restaurant of the Year.
"As our Popeyes restaurants are changing to appeal more to those who prefer excitement in their food, our restaurants are adjusting their image to reflect this excitement as well," Holbrook said. "Fast Foods of Colorado Springs' restaurant re-imaging has set a spectacular example for the rest of our franchise system."
Popeyes named Tampa Maid Incorporated, which provides popcorn shrimp to the brand, as Supplier of the Year. Performance Food Group -- Caro, which distributes grocery basket items -- from paper products to chicken strips -- to more than 150 Popeyes restaurants, received the Distinguished Distributor Award.
"Our franchisees demand superior service from our suppliers and distributors to help their restaurants run at peak performance," Holbrook said. "Tampa Maid and Performance Food Group -- Caro exceed all of our expectations to create truly noteworthy relationships with these vendors."
Other awards recognizing restaurant development that Popeyes issued at the conference include:
-- International Developer of the Year -- Grupo Proalimex (Monterrey,
Mexico)
-- Domestic Developer of the Year -- POP Investments (Dallas)
Founded in 1972 in New Orleans, Popeyes is a leader in the New Orleans segment of the foodservice industry and is the world's second-largest quick-service chicken concept. As of Feb. 22, 2004, Popeyes had 1,803 locations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 21 other countries. For more information, visit Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits' Web site at www.popeyes.com.
AFC Enterprises, Inc. is the franchisor and operator of 4,091 restaurants, bakeries and cafes as of Feb. 22, 2004, in the United States, Puerto Rico and 36 foreign countries under the brand names Popeyes(r) Chicken & Biscuits, Church's Chicken(tm) and Cinnabon(r), and the franchisor of Seattle's Best Coffee(r) in Hawaii, on military bases and internationally. AFC's primary objective is to be the world's Franchisor of Choice(r) by offering investment opportunities in highly recognizable brands and exceptional franchisee support systems and services. AFC Enterprises can be found on the World Wide Web at www.afce.com.
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