FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
People Report™, Melissa Papaleo, Melissa@peoplereport.com (254) 289-2056
California Pizza Kitchen, Sarah Goldsmith, sgoldsmith@cpk.com, (310)342-5000
Claim Jumper, Larry Bill, mrbill@claimjumper.com, (949) 756-9001
Corner Bakery Cafe, Nancy Hampton, nancy.hampton@brinker.com (972) 770-9429
Pasta Pomodoro, Karsha Chang, karsha@earthlink.net (310) 979-9254
Rock Bottom Restaurants, Chris Dodge, cdodge@rockbottom.com, (303) 664-4139
Noah’s New York Bagels, Bridget Bartlett, bbartlett@enbc.com, (925) 979-6006

Top Chains Recognized for Leading the Industry in
Best Human Resource Practices

People Report^TM Honors Six Companies With Distinguished Best People
Practices Awards at the 7^th Annual Best Practice’s Conference

DALLAS, October 31, 2003 –People Report^TM, the leading provider in human resources human capital metrics announced this year’s winners for the Heart of the Workplace Award, the Catalyst Award and the Best People Practices Awards. Winners include California Pizza Kitchen, Claim Jumper Restaurants, Corner Bakery Cafe, Pasta Pomodoro, Rock Bottom Restaurants and Noah’s New York Bagels. The concepts, representing various segments of dining were acknowledged for their leadership and excellence in human resource practices at the People Report’s 7^th  Annual Best Practices Conference, held in Dallas October 30, 2003.

Four of the companies were presented a 2003 Best People Practices Award.  This prestigious award is a significant honor for each recipient, as it acknowledges best overall performance among the more than 75 People Report members.  Each recipient of the 2003 Best People Practices Award is deemed the best performer in their respective segment:  Noah’s New York Bagels– Quick Service (Segment Q), Corner Bakery Cafe – Limited Service/Fast Casual/Family Dining (Segment A), California Pizza Kitchen – Full Service Casual Dining (Segment B) and Claim Jumper Restaurants– Casual Dining Plus/Fine Dining (Segment C).  To be noted, Corner Bakery is the first member to every receive the Best People Practices Award for three consecutive years. Also, California Pizza Kitchen received its second award as well as Claim Jumper. Specifically, these awards were given in recognition of each recipient’s outstanding achievements in three critical areas: management retention, employee retention, and composite diversity (the measure of how many women and racially diverse persons are hired at the management level). 

Also recognized by People Report for leading the restaurant industry in best human resources practices was Pasta Pomodoro, recipient of the Catalyst Award.  This very unique award recognizes People Report member companies that have made significant advances in their people practices, and have sustained the results for at least one year.  Specifically, Pasta Pomodoro was recognized for its significant increases in both management and employee retention, as well as composite diversity.

People Report and Johnson and Wales University’s Community Leadership Institute presented Rock Bottom Restaurants with the Heart of the Workplace Award.  The award recognizes the company that models a best people practice that is exceptional in its execution in the workplace, as well as the positive impact it has on the lives of its managers and employees.  Specifically, Rock Bottom was honored for strategically incorporating their Rock Bottom Foundation into their company’s vision and mission regarding their employees and their guests, and simultaneously reaping significant gains in management retention in both of their operating divisions.

“These winners represent success in today’s labor market”, said Joni Thomas Doolin, CEO and Founder of People Report. “Our members are the leaders in recognizing that people are the core of a successful business. There was intense competition this year for the awards, but the winners stood out among their peers and provide great examples of connecting the dots between people and profits.”

The awards were presented in front of more than 200 attendees representing 70 companies gathered in Dallas to network and discuss best human resources practices that make a difference.  Since 1998, People Report has recognized top performers including Frisch’s, Red Lobster, The Cheesecake Factory, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Restaurants Unlimited, Applebee’s International, and El Pollo Loco.

For more information about the awards or to learn more about People Report and the Best Practices Conference please contact Melissa Papaleo at 254-289-2056 or Melissa@peoplerpeort.com. Also, please check out the People Report Web site at www.peoplereport.com.

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People Report™ is the foremost provider of human resource metrics, benchmarks, trends and best people practices for the foodservice industry. With more than 75 member companies, the mission of People Report is to be the catalyst for service companies seeking to balance people and profits. Services include quarterly and annual reports for its members that track, analyze and benchmark the people side of the P&L. In addition to it's member only reports, People Report conducts broad national research on the service sector workforce of today and tomorrow, including demographics, compensation & benefit information, recruiting and training practices, turnover costs and solutions and more. Visit the experts on current and future HR trends for the foodservice industry at www.peoplereport.com to download and order reports, find a speaker, as well as learn more about membership.

People Report  does not publicly release company specific information.

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