All,
Didn't see this article mentioned here so I thought I'd post it although it is a couple weeks old.
KFC, Italian Oven veteran will oversee Shelly's Woodroast,
Shelly's Back Room management, franchise and training operations
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Woodroast Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: WRSI) today announced the appointment of Alex Gionta, a 25-year restaurant industry veteran, as its vice president of operations, effective January 3, 1997. Gionta was formerly market manager for KFC National Management Company. Gionta will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of all company and franchise units. His responsibilities will also include training and recruitment operations. He will join Ralph Guarino, recently named president and chief operating officer, as a part of a senior management team charged with expansion of Woodroast Systems' restaurant concepts.
Woodroast Systems, developer of Shelly's Woodroast restaurants, recently announced it will undertake nationwide development of its new Shelly's Back Room -- "Civilized Cigar Parlor and Tavern" concept. Shelly's Back Room stores will feature full accommodations for cigar smokers -- including food and beverage service, retail cigar sales and a proprietary fresh air ventilation system. Construction is expected to begin in January on the first stand-alone Shelly's Back Room, to be located in Washington, D.C.
Before his tenure as market manager for KFC, Gionta was vice president for operations at The Italian Oven, a Pennsylvania-based 100-unit restaurant chain. Before joining The Italian Oven, he managed franchisee operations for KFC National Management Company. While there, he was responsible for 25 franchisees and 120 restaurants. He brings to Woodroast Systems over 25 years of line restaurant management experience including franchisee support, site selection, marketing, profit and loss management, as well as recruitment and training.
"We are pleased Alex is joining us as we develop the management infrastructure to expand the Shelly's Back Room cigar parlor and tavern concept," said Guarino. "Alex's impressive store-level, hands-on experience with sales and unit profitability will add real depth to our management team and arm us with valuable expertise as we move from a development-stage organization to full operations," he said.
"The addition of Alex to our management team provides us with the solid competence that will allow us to move quickly and confidently as we expand our exciting new Shelly's Back Room concept," said Sheldon Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Woodroast Systems. "We are in the final stages of developing a strong management capability that will position us for success," he said.
Woodroast Systems, Inc. is an Eden Prairie, Minn.-based restaurant development company expanding its Shelly's Back Room "Civilized Cigar Parlor and Tavern" and Shelly's Woodroast restaurant concepts. Both concepts include a Northwoods lodge theme and "Original Woodroast Cooking(R)," a signature-style cuisine featuring slow-roasted meat, fish, and fowl prepared in patented, computer-controlled wood-burning ovens. Shelly's Back Room features complete accommodations for cigar smokers including food and beverage service, club seating, retail cigar sales, and state-of-the-art air purification. The Company's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market under the symbol WRSI.
SOURCE Woodroast Systems, Inc.
CO: Woodroast Systems, Inc.
ST: Minnesota
IN: RST
SU: PER
12/11/96 09:01 EST prnewswire.com
Regards,
Dennis |
