Noted Franchise Developer Gary Findley Serves Up
`Three-Course Meal’ to Houston Business Investors
Houston, Texas – November 12, 2007 – Famed franchise visionary Gary Findley, the former president of Curves International who grew the chain from 3 to 8,000 locations during his tenure, has set his sights on Houston to recreate similar aggressive growth in the market for three emerging, innovative food franchise concepts – Rising Roll Gourmet, Justix and Bahama Buck’s.
Findley has brought together the three franchise concepts to give potential franchisees a literal taste of his plans to expand the food brands in Houston. The event, “Hot New Concepts in Food Franchising,” will take place Thursday, November 15, 2007 at the San Felipe Room, 6:30 p.m. at the Hilton-Houston Post Oak, 2001 Post Oak Boulevard. Following the presentation, Rising Roll and Bahama Buck’s will offer free food tastings and each of the franchise concepts will be available separately for consultation in a private, trade show setting.
“Rising Roll Gourmet, Bahama Bucks and Justix collectively feed the consumer demand for healthy food and dessert alternatives,” Findley said. “I’m passionate about bringing these franchise investment opportunities to Houston’s entrepreneurial base, which in turn provides consumers with more and better choices.”
Findley noted the ideal demographic match of the concepts in the Houston market, as well as unique ties the companies have to the area. For example, Mike Lassiter, former area developer for Schlotzsky’s Deli, is currently CEO of Franchising Concepts, which includes the Rising Roll Gourmet and Justix brands. Lassiter grew up in Houston, and after moving to Atlanta later in life for his career, purchased the Houston market for Schlotzky’s Deli so that he could bring the brand to his native city. Now, he’s going back to his Houston roots once again by providing opportunities to entrepreneurs seeking to develop Rising Roll Gourmet and Justix in the Houston market.
“Houston is an extremely important market for my brands on many levels,” Lassiter said. “It’s where my roots are, and where my family is today. It’s where my heart is. I know the market extremely well, and I know that Rising Roll Gourmet and Justix have tremendous growth potential here. The market is hungry for fresh food franchise brands. We’re going to explode here.”
About Rising Roll Gourmet and Justix
Rising Roll Gourmet is poised to create a nationwide sensation with its expansive lunch-hour and catering menu of 50 different gourmet sandwiches, salads and exclusive daily soups. Also featuring a wide-selection of menu options, Justix is a franchise investment opportunity that breaks from the fast-casual norm. Justix serves fresh, grilled skewers of USDA beef and pork, all-natural chicken, farm-raised salmon, organic tofu and vegetables.
About Bahama Buck’s
Blake Buchanan has built Bahama Buck’s into a thriving franchise business from its humble beginnings in Lubbock, Texas where he constructed the first location by hand in 1990 as an ambitious Texas Tech University student. The popularity of Bahama Buck’s has reached a feverish level as an increasing number of consumers are appreciating the brand’s 91 creative taste selections with low or zero calories, no fat and no cholesterol.
About Findley Group
Findley Group is a strategic partner to franchise businesses providing customized solutions through all phases of a franchise’s development. Founded in 2004, Findley Group is led by the former president and franchise-builder of Curves International, Gary Findley. Under Findley’s direction as president, Curves International experienced growth in franchises from 3 locations in 1996 to more than 8,000 in 2004. Currently, the Findley Group is working with several innovative and exciting companies who have unique offerings for today’s marketplace.