For: Zebu Forno Franchise LLC, Red Bank, N.J.
From: Parness & Associates, Aberdeen, NJ
For Immediate Release
ZEBU FORNO LAUNCHES FRANCHISING PROGRAM
WITH OPENING OF NEW PROTOTYPE IN HOLMDEL, N.J.
--European-style café to initially focus on New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania markets
RED BANK, N.J. (6/20/07)—Zebu Forno, a European-style bakery and café offering fare for the morning, afternoon and evening day-parts, has announced plans to expand beyond its Monmouth County base through the sale of franchises in other parts of New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania.
The announcement by the Red Bank-headquartered Zebu Forno Franchise LLC follows the recent opening of the brand's first franchised location at The Commons at Holmdel, a major lifestyle shopping center on State Highway 35 in Holmdel, N.J. Owned and operated by RedHawk Food Services LLC of Middletown, the 3,000-square-foot store will serve as a prototype for future units in shopping center and central business district locations.
The initial franchised unit joins the flagship company-owned location which opened in 2001 on Broad Street in downtown Red Bank. In 2003, Zebu Forno doubled the café to its current 3,000-square-foot size by leasing an adjoining storefront. Annual sales at the Red Bank location exceed $1 million and have been growing at a 10%-plus rate since 2004.
"Our intention is to selectively build Zebu Forno into a strong regional brand through a program of controlled growth that focuses on great operators who are passionate about the business. The emphasis will be on quality rather than quantity," said Andrew Gennusa, president of Zebu Forno Franchise LLC. "The initial locations in Red Bank, one of New Jersey's most thriving downtowns, and the heavily trafficked The Commons at Holmdel are representative of a real estate strategy that will focus on central business district and lifestyle center sites that will afford our franchisees entrée to strong traffic throughout all day-parts, seven days a week.
"This strategy," Gennusa continued, "dovetails with our mission to make each Zebu Forno location a ‘town gathering place,' a comfortable and relaxed setting where people of all ages can meet and sit for hours without feeling pressured. The diversity of our menu, extended business hours, comfortable ambiance, and features like flat screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, allow Zebu Forno to attract a clientele for breakfast, lunch, dinner or late-night desserts that runs the gamut from families with young children to teenagers, young adults, senior citizens and businesspeople."
Zebu Forno's menu includes fresh-baked breads, muffins, bagels, and pastries; breakfast sandwiches; omelets; homemade soups; Panini sandwiches, wraps and other hot and cold sandwiches served on home-baked breads; handmade thin-crust pizzas; fresh salads; quiche; gelato; fresh fruit cups; espresso drinks; a variety of coffees and teas; and a soft drink selection that includes Boylan's soda on tap. Patrons place their orders at a central counter, where they can wait or have the items brought to them at the tables. All menu items are available for takeout, augmented by a selection of fresh-baked goods, pastas, sauces, other grocery items, and Zebu mugs and accessories merchandised throughout the stores.
The chain's new prototype store design incorporates the relaxed atmosphere of the downtown Red Bank location, but with certain refinements, including expanded seating for 82 and layout improvements to enhance customer flow and product merchandising. As in Red Bank, seating is provided at conventional tables, stool-height tables and at groupings of Indonesian roll back easy chairs—some of which face out from the storefront. The stores additionally feature original murals by artist Gregg Hinlicky, each celebrating great artists of the past. Numbered guides to the artists depicted on the murals are provided on colorful Zebu Forno bookmarks distributed at the counter. The eclectic atmosphere is rounded out by such features as rustic wood plank floors, a ceiling design that is two-thirds exposed, low voltage track lighting, an exposed brick wall, strategically placed flat screen TVs, satellite music, and free Wi-Fi.
Zebu Forno offers franchisees assistance at all levels of the operation, from site selection, store design and construction, employee training and product procurement, to advertising and marketing. To enhance quality control in the baked goods offering, the company sells frozen raw dough to franchisees that is produced at its central commissary in Red Bank. All items are then freshly baked daily at store level.
Gennusa co-founded the business in 2001 with his brother, Jason, and another partner who also had extensive experience in the restaurant industry. He subsequently acquired the interests of both partners. Prior to launching the concept, Gennusa had been an officer and director of The Manhattan Bagel Company, a business he co-founded with brother Jason in 1987. As the chain's executive vice president, he directed the development, design and construction of over 300 units throughout the country until the company's sale in 1997.
For Zebu Forno franchise information, visit the company's website, www.zebuforno.com.
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Press Contacts: At Parness & Associates Public Relations: Bill Parness or Lisa Kreda, (732) 290-0121, parnespr@optonline.net; at Zebu Forno, Andrew Gennusa, president, (732) 245-2320.
NOTE TO EDITORS: High resolution store photos are available from Parness & Associates.
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