Calling CIA Class of 2004 'Leaders of the Kitchens,' Blum Encourages Chefs to
Set Sights High
HYDE PARK, N.Y., May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Burger King Corporation Chief
Executive Officer Brad Blum today encouraged the 2004 graduating class of 86
chefs at the nation's prestigious Culinary Institute of America (CIA) to
capitalize on the trend developing in the U.S. for chefs to be regarded as
food leaders by encouraging them to "set your sights high."
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031014/BKLOGO )
Blum is leading the turnaround at Burger King Corporation and previously
moved Olive Garden to the top of the highly competitive Italian segment of the
casual dining industry with 33 consecutive quarters of same-restaurant sales
increases and an increase in operating profits of approximately 600 percent.
Blum spent 16 years in marketing and general management at General Mills,
breathing new life into Wheaties, one of the company's most famous brands, and
being a key leader on the founding team of a Switzerland-based joint venture
between General Mills and Nestle that has become a more than $1 billion global
enterprise. Blum cited examples of how thinking big pays off for leaders, and
he challenged CIA graduates to set their sights high.
"Chefs have historically been revered in Europe as great thinkers and
great leaders," said Blum, "and that is starting to change for the good in the
United States. You must take advantage of this changing climate and seize
every opportunity presented to you to set your sights high."
"As leaders, you have the opportunity and responsibility to encourage
great teamwork, to help others succeed and to inspire creativity. What you
do," he told the graduates, "makes a difference, whether it's working in a
Michelin-rated restaurant or creating and serving fast food."
"You must pursue your dreams, and understand that the bigger the dream the
greater the likelihood that people will laugh or challenge you," Blum
continued. "When I came to Burger King Corporation last year and declared that
we would serve great-tasting food, the industry was skeptical. Today, we have
three of the best products in the industry with our TENDERCRISP(TM) Chicken
sandwiches, our Fire-Grilled Salads and our Angus Steak Burger."
Blum noted that three of Burger King Corporation's chefs leading the
company's development of new products are graduates of The Culinary Institute
of America.
"With so much attention being given food," Blum told the graduating CIA
students, "you have the opportunity to prepare food that is not only great-
tasting, but that's also better for people. It's up to you to provide the
leadership and to offer variety."
"You," Blum told the graduates, "are not just leaders of the kitchen. You
are leaders within the food industry. Decide what you want your legacy to be
and then go for it."
Blum was named an Ambassador of CIA "in recognition of distinguished
service to the food service and hospitality industry and for support of and
contribution to culinary education."
About The Culinary Institute of America
Founded in 1946, the Culinary Institute of America is an independent, not-
for-profit college offering bachelor's and associate degrees in culinary arts
and baking and pastry arts. A network of more than 36,000 alumni in
foodservice and hospitality has helped the CIA earn its reputation as the
world's premier culinary college. Courses for foodservice are offered the
college's main campus in Hyde Park, New York, and at the Culinary Institute of
America at Greystone in St. Helena, California. For more information, visit
the CIA website at http://www.ciachef.edu.
About Burger King Corporation
Our vision: We proudly serve the best burgers in the business, plus a
variety of real, authentic foods ... all freshly prepared ... just the way you
want it.
The BURGER KING(R) system operates more than 11,220 restaurants in all 50
states and in 60 countries and territories around the world. Ninety-one
percent of BURGER KING restaurants are owned and operated by independent
franchisees, many of them family-owned operations that have been in business
for decades.
Burger King Holdings, Inc., the parent company, is private and
independently owned by an equity sponsor group comprised of Texas Pacific
Group, Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners. In fiscal year ending
June 30, 2003, Burger King Corporation had system-wide sales of $11.1 billion.
To learn more about BURGER KING, please visit the company's website at
http://www.burgerking.com.
SOURCE Burger King Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.burgerking.com
http://www.ciachef.edu
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031014/BKLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/124650.html
CONTACT:
Blake Lewis of Burger King Corporation,
+1-305-378-7277, or blewis@whopper.com
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