Tony Roma’s Signs Breakthrough Licensing Agreement with Ruprecht Company, Bringing Restaurant Quality Products to US Retail

Agreement ensures fans will continue to enjoy Tony Roma’s world-famous ribs and BBQ products at home

ORLANDO, Fla. – May 10, 2017 – Romacorp, Inc., parent company of Tony Roma’s, announces the company’s newest licensing deal with Ruprecht Company, the oldest and most renowned operating meat processor and food manufacturer in the Chicago area. Ruprecht has been providing center-of-the-plate protein items to the country’s finest food service and retail establishments for more than 140 years, and has been a trusted supplier partner to Tony Roma’s restaurants for more than a decade. This new agreement makes it possible for rib and BBQ fanatics to enjoy Tony Roma’s restaurant quality ribs and BBQ meats in their homes for any occasion.

“By leveraging Ruprecht’s restaurant quality meats and working in cooperation with Tony Roma’s award-winning culinary team, Tony Roma’s ribs and BBQ meats sold in US retail channels will taste just like the world-class product sold in Tony Roma’s restaurants around the world,” said Stephen K. Judge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Romacorp, Inc. “We are excited to work with Walter Sommers and his team and leverage their sous vide cooking method, ensuring Tony Roma’s retail products will be produced without preservatives, retain greater nutritional content, and be the best tasting and safest product possible for our customers and their families.”

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 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 and safest product possible.

“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 exciting new items and Tony Roma’s classics to retail shelves across the country.”

This is the latest in a string of transformational announcements for Tony Roma’s as it celebrates its 45^th birthday, an incredible milestone unmatched by any American casual dining restaurant chain. Recent Tony Roma’s announcements include new licensing deals in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, renewed US restaurant growth with new development and franchise agreements in Tennessee and West Palm Beach, Florida, accelerated international restaurant growth with new development agreements in Spain, Nicaragua and Bolivia, and the 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 more than 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.

Broad Street Licensing Group is Romacorp’s licensing agent for the Tony Roma’s brand and helped facilitate this agreement. For information about retail sales licensing opportunities with the Tony Roma’s brand, contact Bill Cross, SVP, Broad Street Licensing Group at (973) 655-0598.

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