RISE - Menu Monitor

Friendly’s added several new Iced Lattes and Friendly’s Chillers for the summer. Iced Latte flavors include Regular, Mocha,
Caramel, French Vanilla and Hazelnut. Chillers are combos of Sprite and orange juice with flavors such as Blue Raspberry,
Cherry or Pineapple and an orange and cherry garnish. (Company Website)
Friendly’s rolled out a variety of chicken baskets. Featured offerings are: • Honey BBQ Chicken Strips Basket—chicken strips
covered in BBQ sauce, paired with ranch dip and served with fries and coleslaw • Kickin’ Buffalo Chicken Strips Basket—
crispy chicken strips coated in Buffalo sauce, paired with bleu cheese dressing and sides of fries and coleslaw • Chicken Strips
Basket—crispy chicken strips paired with fries, coleslaw and a choice of honey mustard or BBQ sauce • Southwest Chipotle
Chicken Strips Basket—crispy chicken strips covered in chipotle sauce, paired with fries, coleslaw and ranch dressing.
(Company Website)
Kids’ menus are becoming more sophisticated to cater to young people’s more discerning palates as well as adults looking for
comfort food. At select Roy’s Restaurant locations, the kids’ menu includes sushi. At one location in New York City, the menu
offers a three-course children’s meal ($12) featuring a choice of one of five entrées as well as a sundae. The courses include
sushi, teriyaki-glazed salmon with steamed vegetables, braised short ribs with mashed potatoes and penne with a cheesebutter
sauce. At Viand in Chicago, Chef Steve Chiappetti prepares peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, with the choice of three
kinds of jelly and smooth or chunky peanut butter; fries prepared from celery coated in a tempura batter; fish and chips in a
fish-shaped wire basket; and a junk-food cart with housemade versions of Twinkies, Sno Balls and Oreos. Friendly’s
Restaurants relied on a panel of advice from young adults to help develop its kids’ menu. The chain did not reveal specific
items but did say that new offerings would include more ethnic items, such as salsa. (Nation’s Restaurant News Online
6/11/07)
Franchise Activity |
Friendly’s Ice Cream franchisee, Kessler Family, LLC, has hired Mastodon Ventures, Inc. as its strategic advisor. Mastodon
Ventures, Inc. will explore strategic alternatives including the acquisition of some or all of the assets of the company should
such assets be available for sale. (Company Release 3/12/07)
Friendly Ice Cream Corp.’s largest franchisee, Kessler Family LLC, is considering acquiring the chain. Kessler is looking to
purchase some or all of Friendly’s assets if they are offered for sale. Friendly’s operates and franchises 514 restaurants,
mainly in the eastern United States. (Nation’s Restaurant News Online 3/12/07; Company Release 3/12/07; NRN Daily
NewsFax 3/13/07)
Friendly’s franchisees representing 95% of all operators of the chain wrote a letter to shareholders that expresses their support
for the new CEO. They also express their opposition to any investor who will not protect the interests of franchisees. This
group of 39 franchisees does not include the largest franchisee, Kessler Family LLC, which operates 46 units of the 514-outlet
chain. Kessler recently said that it was considering purchasing of part of all of Friendly's. The chain has been considering a
sale of the company and other strategic alternatives. Friendly's faces a challenge from a 15% stakeholder that is trying to win
two seats on its board of directors. (NRN Daily NewsFax 3/22/07)
Personnel |
George Condos, CEO/President
Paul Hoagland, CFO
Steven Feyman, V.P. of Purchasing
Ken Green, V.P. of Operations
Andre Feuhr, V.P. of Research & Development
Pete Bell, V.P. of Marketing
Friendly Ice Cream Corp. hired George M. Condos as president and chief executive officer, effective January 8. Previously,
Condos served as brand officer for Dunkin’ Brands. (Company Release 1/8/07)
Friendly Ice Cream Corp. has hired Kevin McNamara as senior director for organization and management development.
Previously, McNamara served as vice president of training for Dunkin’ Brands. (NRN Daily NewsFax 3/22/07)
News & Other |
Friendly Ice Cream Corporation reported for the third quarter ended October 1 net earnings decreased 41.2% to $2 million
from $3.4 million for the same period last year. Revenues increased 0.6% to $141.9 million from $141.1 million. Same-store
sales grew 1.7% for company-operated restaurants and fell 1.7% for franchised restaurants. (Company Release 11/8/06)
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