Amazon.com may be hurtin', but its founder always will eat

Nation's Restaurant News, Jan 24, 2000

AUSTIN, TEXAS -- Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos may have to tighten his belt a little in the wake of a $5 billion drop in his Internet company's value, but he doesn't have to worry about where his next meal is coming from. That's because Schlotzsky's Inc. guaranteed Bezos free pizzas for him and his family at any Schlotzsky's Deli in the country during the year. The company, following the lead of Time magazine, named Bezos, whose company is now worth 'only' $22 billion, "Man of the Year." The designation qualified him for the free offer.

"Jeff Bezos is an American hero, and we think what he's doing is brave and innovative," said John Wooley, president and chief executive of Schlotzsky's. "He dreams big, loses big and still wins big.

"At the same time he's a young guy with a young family to feed. At his burn rate he needs lots of pizza," Wooley added.