DALLAS, December 9, 2003 – This New Year, Americans who are controlling their carbs will be able to dine out with friends and family easier than ever before. Beginning December 9, 2003, T.G.I. Friday’s® restaurants and Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. are introducing a revolutionary, new partnership that will change the way America thinks about dining out. With 19 percent of frequent restaurant patrons in the casual dining segment currently using the Atkins Nutritional Approach™1, the new Atkins®-approved menu options at T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants are sure to satisfy the millions of Americans who are turning the traditional food pyramid on its head to suit their own individual lifestyles and nutritional and health needs.
“We are pleased to be able to answer our guests’ desire for low carb options by creating the ‘first-of-its-kind’ partnership with the leader of controlled carbohydrate nutrition, Atkins. Together, we are making it simple for consumers to make low carbohydrate food choices outside the home from two great American brands,” said Richard Snead, president and CEO of Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, parent company of T.G.I. Friday’s. “Not to mention, at T.G.I. Friday’s, we’re rock stars with proteins and with help from Atkins, we will provide a variety of delicious and trustworthy offerings for the millions of low carb enthusiasts.”
“It’s no secret that we’ve been extraordinarily selective when it comes to lending the Atkins name,” said Matt Wiant, senior vice president, CMO, for Atkins Nutritionals. “Just as Atkins is synonymous with low carb, the T.G.I. Friday’s menu is known for its variety of flavorful choices. As partners, we are making it easier for Americans to maintain a low carb lifestyle, while enjoying the age-old tradition of enjoying a great meal at a favorite, local restaurant with friends and family.”
As the culinary landscape continues to evolve, the talented chefs at Friday’s restaurants are constantly challenging themselves to create new and innovative menu items. T.G.I. Friday’s® prides itself on offering its guests a wide variety when it comes to food options and the new Atkins®-approved menu offerings will continue to provide the same level of variety for the millions of Americans who are now controlling their carbohydrate intake for weight management and better health.
“By showing our guests how their favorite foods can be adjusted to fit within a low carb lifestyle, we are helping them make the best decisions possible, while still having fun,” said Larry Doyle, a corporate chef on the T.G.I. Friday’s culinary team. “Not only did we spend several months working with the Atkins nutritional team to develop low carb, high protein menu items with a twist, we spent a great deal of time making sure the dishes would meet our guests’ expectations of taste and variety.”
T.G.I. Friday’s new Atkins® menu items are a combination of completely new creations and some slightly altered signature dishes – the menu includes a delicious mix of appetizers, entrée salads and entrées. Two of Friday’s favorite appetizers – Tuscan Spinach Dip and Buffalo Wings – will now be served with vegetables and are great starters to share. Friday’s is also offering two Atkins®- approved salad entrées, brand new Tuna Salad Wraps, in addition to a new rendition of Friday’s popular Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad.
For the main course, Friday’s will be serving five new Atkins®-approved entrées including two of their most popular items, Sizzling Chicken with Broccoli and Garlic Chicken with Mixed Vegetables. Other entrée items include a Chargrilled Salmon Filet, Sizzling NY Strip with Bleu Cheese and the Cheeseburger Cheeseburger.
“The Friday’s menu gives us a new platform to communicate that the Atkins Nutritional Approach™ isn’t about eliminating important food groups like vegetables, rather it’s about making the most healthful choices possible when trying to limit your carbohydrate intake, especially while dining out,” added Colette Heimowitz, vice president of education and research for Atkins.
Since the first T.G.I. Friday’s® restaurant opened its doors in New York City in 1965, Friday’s restaurants have embodied the spirit of a quintessential American bistro for millions of guests. With more than 520 T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants in 48 states, the restaurant is best known for its energetic, welcoming environment, great service, extensive menu and those familiar red and white stripes. Friday’s menu features nearly 75 menu items, including the new Atkins®-endorsed appetizers, entrée salads and entrées.
About T.G.I. Friday’s
Carlson Restaurants Worldwide Inc., the parent company of TGI Friday’s Inc., is a privately held company owned by Minneapolis-based Carlson Companies, Inc., a world leader in the hospitality, travel and marketing industries. As of September 29, 2003, Carlson Restaurants operates, franchises and licenses 816 restaurants in 55 countries, including T.G.I. Friday’s. Carlson Restaurants Worldwide is included in the Carlson Hospitality Worldwide division of Carlson Companies, Inc. For more information on the Friday’s brands, visit www.Fridays.com.
About Atkins Nutritionals, Inc.
Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. ("ANI") was founded by Dr. Robert C. Atkins in 1989 as Complementary Formulations and changed to ANI in 1998. Today, ANI is a fast-growing, multimillion dollar enterprise, providing a broad range of convenience foods, supplements, baked goods, snacks, condiments and information products designed to serve the millions of Americans who have adopted the controlled carbohydrate lifestyle. ANI's mission is stated as follows: To help people enjoy healthier lives, Atkins will be the pioneer and leader in providing innovative nutritional and information products based on controlled carbohydrate nutritional science and rooted in the Atkins Nutritional Approach™. The Atkins Nutritional Approach™ consists of four phases: Induction, Ongoing Weight Loss, Pre-Maintenance and Lifetime Maintenance and focuses on controlling carbohydrate intake while consuming nutrient-dense, unprocessed foods and incorporating supplements and exercise into one's lifestyle.
1 T.G.I. Friday’s Diet Awareness and Usage Report
