 
Back
To News/PR Index
|
|
Le
Duff America, Inc. Completes Acquisition of Mimi’s Cafe and Names New President
|
Dallas-based
restaurant group with French heritage plans brand revitalization
Le
Duff America, Inc. Completes Acquisition of Mimi’s Cafe and Names New President
Irvine,
CA – March 2013 / Hospitality 1ST / Le Duff America, Inc. completed
the acquisition of Mimi’s Cafe
for $50 million on Friday, February 15 from Bob Evans Farms Inc. and named
former la Madeleine Country French Cafe President and COO Phil Costner
as the new President of Mimi’s Cafe. Mimi’s joins Le Duff America’s growing
portfolio of brands, which includes la Madeleine, Bruegger’s Bagels, Brioche
Doree, Timothy’s Coffee and Michel’s Baguette in the U.S. and Canada. The
company announced plans to return “joie de vivre” to the Mimi’s brand and
to make a significant investment in the facilities, people and products
in order to revitalize the brand.
“Mimi’s
is a perfect fit in the Le Duff America portfolio given the French heritage
of the brand and shared tradition of quality, authenticity, value and hospitality.
The addition of a casual dining brand complements our portfolio and fits
into the company’s long-term strategic view,” said Claude Bergeron , Chairman
and Co-CEO of Le Duff America.
“Our goal is to move forward with brand revitalization to set the company
up for future growth by attracting new guests and becoming more relevant
to their evolving needs.”
“Mimi’s
Cafe is a fantastic brand with 35 years of legacy and a deep heritage,”
said Phil Costner , President of Mimi’s Cafe. “We’re not going to change
what guests love most about Mimi’s – we are going to invest in the restaurants,
food and people in order to upgrade and strengthen the brand.”
Highlights
-
Le Duff
America to keep Mimi’s operational headquarters in Irvine, Calif.
-
Phil Costner
, formerly President and COO of la Madeleine, is named President of Mimi’s
Cafe.
-
Le Duff
America intends to move forward with the evolution of the bakery/cafe concept
that debuted at Mimi’s Valencia, Calif. location in October 2012.
-
Mimi’s
will invest in updates to existing locations to reenergize and update the
restaurants with a consistent look and feel befitting to the French-inspired
cafe.
-
Mimi’s
will continue to reinvigorate, improve and enrich the new expanded menu.
-
Le Duff
America will focus on Mimi’s French heritage and use founder Arthur J.
Simms ‘ original vision of the simple, yet charming meals he enjoyed in
Paris as an airman during World War II as the basis for the renovation
effort.
For more
information, please visit MimisCafe.com,
or find Mimi’s at Facebook.com/MimisCafe
and at Twitter.com/mimis_cafe.
About
Mimi’s Cafe
Founded
by Arthur Simms , who was stationed in France during World War II, Mimi’s
Cafe is a neighborhood bistro inspired by the wonderful flavors, wines
and unmistakable ambience of Paris, and named after a captivating mademoiselle
he met named Mimi. In 1978, he opened the first Mimi’s Cafe inspired by
his memories of Mimi and passion for good food, wine and camaraderie that
he remembered so fondly. Mimi’s Cafe is owned by Le Duff America, Inc.
and has 145 locations in 24 states. More info at www.MimisCafe.com.
About
Le Duff America, Inc.
Le
Duff America, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is the North American Subsidiary
of Groupe Le Duff, a global bakery and restaurant company headquartered
in Rennes, France. Groupe Le Duff was founded by Louis Le Duff in 1976
on a concept of quality products based on health research, flavor, French
tradition and nutrition. For more information, please visit www.groupeleduff.com/en. |
