2002 The Year in Review

Nation's Restaurant News, Dec 23, 2002 by Ron Ruggless

LaMar's Donuts International Inc. was moving its headquarters to Denver from Lincoln, Neb.

Wolfgang Puck Worldwide Inc. of Beverly Hills, Calif., bought the Cucina Presto fast-casual and Cucina! Cucina! Italian Cafe chains from brothers Bill and John Schwartz of Bellevue, Wash.

The founders and executives of Dave & Buster's Inc. of Dallas proposed taking the 31-unit chain of restaurant-and-games complexes private in a deal estimated at $255 million.

T.G.I. Friday's and CKE Restaurants Inc. settled a false-advertising claim filed by Friday's over CKE's "Six Dollar Burger, Only $3.95" ad campaign, which allegedly had disparaged the casual-dining chain by ignoring that its burger was made from Angus beef. Details of the settlement were not released.

The Multi-Cultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance elected Pat Harris, chief diversity officer for McDonald's Corp., as chairman of the nonprofit group.

In marketing initiatives Yum! Brands' Taco Bell chain rolled out its first complete meal-in-a-bowl item, the Zesty Chicken Border Bowl.

In management shifts Gregg Kaplan resigned as president of the 565-unit Cinnabon Inc., a division of AFC Enterprises Inc. of Atlanta.

Outback Steakhouse Inc. named Bill Allen chief executive of its new Premium Concepts division.

Michael Hoffer resigned as chief operating officer at the 63-unit Famous Dave's of America Inc. in Eden Prairie, Minn.

El Polio Loco Inc. of Irvine, Calif., named Joseph N. Stein chief financial officer.

Allied Domecq Quick Service Restaurants of Randolph, Mass., hired Michael Furlow as chief information officer.

Burger King Corp. named Jim Hyatt senior vice president of operations services and programs.

Metromedia Restaurant Group of Plano, Texas, named John Wright president of its Bennigan's division to succeed Jerry Comstock, who resigned to head Wherehouse Music.

Roadhouse Grill Inc. of Pompano Beach, Fla., hired Gary P. Bennett as chief operating officer.

Nation's Restaurant News announced its 2002 Golden Chain winners, honored for their accomplishments and career-long achievements: Lee A. Cockerell, executive vice president of operations for Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.; John C. Metz, chairman and chief executive of Metz & Associates Ltd. in Dallas, Pa.; Lattimore M. Michael, founder, chairman and chief executive of Back Yard Burgers of Memphis, Tenn.; Edna Morris, president of Red Lobster in Orlando, Fla.; Dennis Tase, president and chief operating officer of the Galardi Group of Newport, Calif., parent of Wienerschnitzel; and Alfred L. "Fred" Thimm Jr., president and chief operating officeer of Palm Management Corp. of Washington, D.C.

Deaths this month included that of Joe Marchetti, who ran Chicago's famed Como Inn for decades. He died June 11 as a result of brain cancer. He was 68.

JULY

Aiming to protect U.S. citizens and the nation's food supplies from malicious attacks, President George W. Bush signed a landmark law that put food vendors alongside federal agencies on the front lines against terrorism.