Tony Roma’s® Brings Restaurant Quality Ribs and BBQ Meats to USA Retail

Transition to new strategic retail licensee, Ruprecht Company, moving forward

ORLANDO, Fla. – September 29, 2017 – Romacorp, Inc., parent company of Tony Roma’s®, announces that the transition to their new strategic retail licensee, Ruprecht Company, is moving forward and will soon be completed. Ruprecht, the oldest and most renowned meat processor and food manufacturer in Chicago, has been providing center-of-the-plate protein items to the country’s finest food service and retail establishments for more than 150 years, and has been a trusted supplier to Tony Roma’s restaurants for more than a decade. Tony Roma’s branded ribs and BBQ meats available at retail are currently manufactured by CBQ, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carl Buddig & Company, through a short-term non-exclusive license.  Romacorp worked with CBQ to ensure retailer demand was satisfied during the transition of the Tony Roma’s program to Ruprecht. When the transition to Ruprecht is completed, Ruprecht will be the sole supplier of Tony Roma’s branded ribs and BBQ meats at retail in the United States.

“We are excited to move forward with Ruprecht as we work to grow the Tony Roma’s brand at retail establishments throughout the United States, and to ensure that our retail products live up to the highest standards of quality, the same standards we employ at our restaurants,” said Bradley Scher, President and Chief Executive Officer for Romacorp, Inc. “By leveraging Ruprecht’s restaurant quality meat production and working with Tony Roma’s award-winning culinary team, Tony Roma’s ribs and BBQ meats sold in USA retail channels will taste just like the world-class product sold in Tony Roma’s restaurants around the world.”

Ruprecht Company uses Sous Vide technology, a cooking method which retains food’s natural moisture, flavor, aroma, and nutritional content, produces meat tender enough to cut with a fork, and results in a longer shelf life product without the use of artificial preservatives and chemicals. The company operates with extremely high standards of safety, cleanliness and sanitation delivered through a newly constructed state-of-the-art processing facility.  In addition, the use of sous vide technology improves product quality and consumer safety by pasteurizing the meat at precise temperatures and vacuum-sealing the product, ensuring the best tasting product and providing enhanced food safety.

“Ruprecht Company is thrilled to be working with such an iconic global brand to bring Tony Roma’s great flavors into retail,” said Walter Sommers, President of Ruprecht Company. “We have been a prime supplier to Tony Roma’s for almost 15 years, and we are looking forward to bringing Tony Roma’s classics and exciting new items to retail shelves across the country.”

Celebrating its 45^th birthday this year, an incredible milestone unmatched by any American casual dining restaurant chain, 2017 has been a transformational year for Tony Roma’s.  Recent announcements include new licensing deals in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, renewed USA restaurant growth with new development and franchise agreements in Colorado, Idaho, Tennessee and West Palm Beach, Florida, accelerated international restaurant growth with new development agreements in Spain, Nicaragua and Bolivia, and the October 2016 launch of Tony Roma’s new global prototype restaurant in Orlando, Florida. With restaurants in more than 30 countries on five continents around the world, Tony Roma’s is the world’s largest casual dining chain specializing in ribs.

About Romacorp, Inc.
Romacorp, Inc., is the parent company of Tony Roma’s restaurants, the world’s largest casual dining concept specializing in ribs. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Romacorp, Inc. has nearly 150 restaurant locations in more than 30 countries and is one of the most globally recognizable names in the industry. The first Tony Roma’s restaurant opened 45 years ago in North Miami, Florida. Tony Roma’s is also proud to partner with the Make-A-Wish Foundation (www.cnfl.wish.org), one of the world’s leading children’s charities, in an effort to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses across Central and Northern Florida.  For more information about Romacorp, Inc. and Tony Roma’s, visit www.tonyromas.com.

Please visit www.tonyromasfranchise.com or call (866) 981-0586 for information about Tony Roma’s franchising opportunities.

Media Contact:
Esther McIlvain
Uproar PR for Romacorp, Inc.
(321) 236-0102 x 230
emcilvain@uproarpr.com