NEW YORK, June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Chanticleer
Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOTR, HOTRU), an owner of privately held
Hooters of America and franchisee focused on international
expansion of the Hooters casual dining restaurant brand, will
celebrate its June 21 listing on the
NASDAQ Capital Market by ringing the closing bell today at 4
p.m.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120416/CL87692LOGO
)
Hooters of America Chief Executive Officer Terry Marks will join Chanticleer Holdings'
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mike
Pruitt at the bell podium along with Chanticleer Holdings'
international operating partners, other directors of Hooters of
America, the Miss Hooters International 2012 winner and the Miss
Hooters of South Africa.
Following an investment in Hooters of America (HOA) in 2006,
Chanticleer Holdings brought together a group of noteworthy private
equity investors to acquire HOA in 2011, including H.I.G. Capital,
KarpReilly, LLC and Kelly Hall,
president of Texas Wings, Inc., the largest Hooters franchisee in
the United States.
With more than 40 international restaurants in 28 countries,
Hooters is among the world's most recognizable and iconic
restaurant brands. The Hooters lifestyle brand, famed heritage as
the original wings restaurant, and successful growth domestically
and internationally over almost three decades is a powerful
foundation on which to expand. Chanticleer Holdings' initial focus
includes Australia, Brazil, Hungary and South
Africa.
"This is an exciting day for Chanticleer, our international
business partners and for the Hooters brand," said Mike Pruitt, who is also a member of the HOA
board. "Since the purchase of Hooters in early 2011, we have
assembled a new, strong leadership team at Hooters that has a keen
focus on growing the brand both domestically and internationally,
and we are thrilled to be part of that process."
The new executive leadership team, including Marks, Chief
Operating Officer Sam Rothschild and
Chief Marketing Officer Dave
Henninger, brings professional restaurant and foodservice
expertise and heightened credibility to the brand.
"The Hooters team is excited about this new milestone in the
next phase of growing the Hooters brand internationally, and we are
thrilled to be a part of closing the bell at NASDAQ," Marks said.
"The Hooters brand is recognized around the world and represents
the fun-loving culture that makes our guests happy. As we embark on
the next phase of growth, the new leadership team at Hooters is
committed to a few simple tenets – great food, a fun and upbeat
atmosphere, and unbeatable and uniquely Hooters service, all across
the globe."
Most recently, Hooters rolled out new and improved burger
choices and wing recipes. From expanded menu and beverage choices
to restaurant remodels and renovations, guests will enjoy many more
improvements in the coming months.
To view the bell ringing ceremony online using the NASDAQ
webcam, click on the following link at approximately 3:45 PM EDT and follow the instructions:
http://www.nasdaq.com/about/marketsitetowervideo.asx
About Chanticleer Holdings, Inc.
Chanticleer Holdings (NASDAQ: HOTR, HOTRU) a business operator
focused on expanding the Hooters casual dining restaurant brand in
international markets. Chanticleer currently has rights to develop
and operate Hooters restaurants in South
Africa and has joint ventured with the current franchisee in
Australia. The company also has
franchise rights to develop Hungary and parts of Brazil while evaluating several additional
opportunities internationally. In 2011, Chanticleer and a
group of noteworthy private equity investors, which included H.I.G.
Capital, KarpReilly, LLC and Kelly
Hall, president of Texas Wings Inc., the largest Hooters
franchisee in the United States,
acquired Hooters of America (HOA). Today, HOA is the franchisor and
operator of over 435 Hooters restaurants in 44 states and 28
foreign countries. Chanticleer maintains a minority ownership stake
in HOA and its CEO, Mike Pruitt, is
also a member of HOA's Board of Directors. For further information,
please visit www.chanticleerholdings.com or www.hooters.com and
follow us on Twitter at @ChantHoldings or @Hooters.
About Hooters of America, LLC
Hooters of America, LLC is the franchisor and operator of over
430 Hooters restaurants in 44 states and 27 foreign countries. The
first Hooters opened in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida. Hooters is well-known for
its brand of food and fun, featuring a casual beach-theme
atmosphere, a menu that features seafood, sandwiches and Hooters
nearly, world famous chicken wings, and service provided by the
All-American cheerleaders, the Hooters Girls. For more information
about Hooters visit www.Hooters.com or follow us at
www.twitter.com/Hooters or www.Facebook.com/Hooters.
SOURCE Hooters of America, LLC