Souper Salad, Inc. Names Industry Veteran Tim Taft as CEO

Posted on August 27, 2008 by Pete Kosowski

San Antonio, Texas –Souper Salad, Inc., parent company of Souper Salad and Grandy’s restaurants, has named Tim Taft as its new Chief Executive Officer. San Antonio-based Souper Salad, Inc. is owned by an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners.

A restaurant industry executive with considerable experience in franchise operations, Taft most recently served as president and CEO of Pizza Inn, a 350-store international chain with sales of more than $250 million. During his tenure, the company reversed a six-year decline in same store sales, outsourced an ineffective in-house distribution network and repaired the fractured relationship with its franchisees, leading to an unprecedented system remodeling effort.

Prior to his time at Pizza Inn, Taft spent more than a decade with the 640-store, $700 million chain Whataburger, including five years as President and COO. Under Taft’s leadership, Whataburger posted 46 consecutive quarters of same store sales growth, was named a Texas Treasure by the State Legislature and "Hot Again" by Nation’s Restaurant News.

"Tim has an impressive and well-documented track record of success in the restaurant industry, including a unique ability to forge strong relationships with franchisees and grow franchise operations. Both of these skills will be key focus areas for us as we strive to enhance the Grandy’s and Souper Salad concepts," said Tom Taylor, Chairman of Souper Salad, Inc. "We are pleased to have Tim at the helm and look forward to seeing the positive impact he will have on our operations, franchise partners, corporate team and customers."

In addition to leading the Souper Salad and Grandy’s chains, Taft will also oversee the Souper Brands franchise network with the goal of growing the network of franchisees.

Taft added: "I have personal experience with both of these restaurant concepts and am excited about the potential they have for growth. "We will focus our teams and culture on operational excellence, and by blending our passion and experience with the support of our financial partners, we will continue to accelerate the growth of both Souper Salad and Grandy’s."

About Souper Salad, Inc.
Founded in 1978, San Antonio-based Souper Salad, Inc. operates two successful restaurant concepts under the Souper Salad and Grandy’s brands. The company currently operates 151 locations in 17 states, including 85 company-owned stores and 66 franchise-owned and operated stores under its Souper Brands system. Over the past 30 years, Souper Salad has established a reputation across the Southwest for fresh, healthy and affordable dining in a casual, comfortable environment. Grandy’s has served up fresh, homestyle meals in a quick service restaurant environment for the past 30 years.

About Sun Capital Partners, Inc.
Sun Capital Partners, Inc. is a leading private investment firm focused on leveraged buyouts, equity, debt, and other investments in market–leading companies that can benefit from its in–house operating professionals and experience. Sun Capital affiliates have invested in and managed more than 190 companies worldwide with combined sales in excess of $35.0 billion since Sun Capital’s inception in 1995. Sun Capital has offices in Boca Raton, Los Angeles, and New York, as well as affiliates with offices in London, Tokyo, and Shenzhen.