Schlotzsky's
| File:Schlotzskys gray-orange.jpg | |
| File:Schlotzskys 2005.jpg "The Original," the signature sandwich of Schlotzsky's | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Genre | Fast food |
| Founded | 1971 in Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Founders | Don and Dolores Dissman |
| Headquarters | 200 Glenridge Point Parkway, Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia , U.S. |
Number of locations | 310+ |
Area served | United States |
Key people | William Armstrong (president) Megan Thomas (VPM) Randy Hayworth (VPO) |
| Products | Sandwiches, pizzas, salads, calzones, soups |
| Parent | GoTo Foods |
| Website | schlotzskys |
Schlotzsky's is a U.S.-based franchise restaurant chain that focuses on sandwiches and pizzas, with its headquarters located in Atlanta, Georgia. Operating more than 310 franchised and corporate outlets mainly throughout the southern and southwestern regions of the United States, the brand is also making inroads into northern and southeastern territories. Currently, Schlotzsky's is owned by GoTo Foods.
History
Schlotzsky's was established in 1971 by Don and Dolores Dissman in Austin, Texas, launching with a single sandwich named "The Original," which drew inspiration from the muffuletta. By 1981, the chain expanded to 100 franchise locations before being purchased for less than $3 million by investors John and Jeff Wooley along with Gary Bradley. After a division in ownership in 1982, the Wooley brothers retained control of the restaurant chain and broadened the menu to feature specialty pizzas, wraps, salads, and soups.
In December 1995, the Wooleys took Schlotzsky's public on NASDAQ under the ticker BUNZ. The company reached its zenith in 2001 with 759 outlets and sales exceeding $400 million but then experienced stagnation in same-store sales. This downturn led to an $11.7 million loss in 2003 and resulted in leadership restructuring with Sam Coats stepping in as CEO in 2004.
Confronted with liabilities totaling $71.3 million against assets valued at $111.7 million, Schlotzsky's sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 2004. Following this, Bobby Cox Companies acquired the chain’s assets through bankruptcy proceedings and took it private. The new management concentrated on reinforcing franchise operations, simplifying the menu offerings, and launching new corporate-owned stores to boost growth.
In November 2006, Focus Brands, an affiliate of private equity firm Roark Capital Group, purchased Schlotzsky's. Under Focus Brands’ stewardship, Kelly Roddy was named president in 2007 to oversee a comprehensive brand revitalization and expansion plan. This initiative involved updating store designs with the "Lotz Better" concept, enhancing the menu to include healthier choices, introducing table service, and co-branding with Cinnabon to broaden product variety and services globally.
Slogan
The brand’s current slogan introduced in 2021 is "It's a mouthful." Former slogans have included "All 'Round, Lotz Better," "Lotz Better," "Every Bite Lotz Better," "Funny name. Serious sandwich," and "Just one sandwich, it's that good."
See also
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- Companies headquartered in Austin, Texas
- Food and beverage companies located in Atlanta
- Submarine sandwich chains
- Restaurants founded in 1971
- American corporations founded in 1971
- 1971 establishments in Texas
- Bakeries in the United States
- Fast casual dining establishments
- United States fast-food chains
- Fast-food franchise operations
- Companies that underwent Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004
- Mergers and acquisitions in 2006
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
- American companies established in 1971