Issue 12, Fall 2000
In this Issue:

New Store Opening Celebrations
B-Lines: Ralph Desiano
Tee-Riffic! -
Second Annual Charity Golf Outing

Bravo
Box Scores
Managers on the Move

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Observations from the President

If anything is certain, it is that change is certain. Once upon a time, we needed airplanes and automobiles to shorten the distance between places and people. Today, we only need chat rooms, instant e-mail and international cell phones. Now we can live in one geographic area and have a community in many geographic areas.

The American population is also changing and becoming much more diverse. Baby boomers and immigrants representing scores of ethnic groups will account for more than half of the 50 million people who will be added to the nation's population over the next 25 years. This will have a great effect on our business from both an employee standpoint and a guest perspective.

Despite these changes, we still all need local community - perhaps even more of it. The number of Americans who work at home has risen dramatically and recent statistics indicate that an increasing number want to get out of their home offices to connect with their neighbors at local places of worship, fitness centers - and restaurants.

For all of us at Briad, these changes heighten the importance of one thing that will never change - our commitment to customer satisfaction. More and more of our customers want to feel comfortably "at home" when they are away from home. Here's something to keep in mind: most of our customers are baby boomers who own more than 75% of U.S. financial wealth. They spend more than $1 trillion a year on goods and services. We want them to spend their time and money with us - and we want them to spend more and more.

Now and in the future if we're not thinking "customer", we're not thinking. In times of unprecedented change, it's wise to remember the Macy's motto: 'Be everywhere, do everything, and never fail to astonish the customer." By making a commitment to be everywhere and do everything, we'll astonish not only our customers, but also our bottom line - not to mention, ourselves.

Southington T.G.I. Friday's Debuts

On October 14, T.G.I. Friday's store in Southington, CT held its Grand Opening Celebration. Approximately $1,000 was raised for the Children's Miracle Network by the event, which included a VIP party attended by local stars and 2 former Pittsburgh Steelers.

On October 16, the ribbon was cut and the store officially opened. Pictured at the ribbon cutting: (l to r) Ralph Desiano, Briad VP of Operations, T.G.I. Friday's; Jim LaChance, Kitchen Manager; Chris Danas, General Manager; Mike Dell'Angelo, Briad COO; Michael Rossi, Southington Town Council member; William DePaolo, Chairman of the Southington Town Council; Dave Cahill, Briad Senior VP and CFO; and Ray Nardo, Regional Manager.

Coming in Next Issue . . . Annual Kickoff Meeting Award Winners More . . .