Orange County Business Journal:
Wienerschnitzel hopes that
taking a long look back will move the hot dog chain forward after a rugged two years that saw an expansion in the Inland Empire turn into a drag on sales and profits.
“Last year was a disaster, and the first part of this year was tough,†said Dennis Tase, president and chief operating officer of Irvine-based Galardi Group, Wienerschnitzel’s privately held parent.
The chain includes about 350 Wienerschnitzel restaurants, mostly franchises, in 10 Western states and Guam. Galardi Group also operates Tastee-Freez LLC, both as freestanding restaurants on the East Coast and within Wienerschnitzels.
Galardi has an estimated $35 million in annual revenue, made up of fees from franchisees and sales from company-owned restaurants.
The hot dog chain’s sales have stabilized in recent months. Now it’s pinning hopes on a 50th anniversary that will be a marketing focus for 2011.