CiCi's Pizza President Craig Moore Retires; CEO Named
CiCi's Pizza announces the retirement of President Craig Moore, a 17-year veteran of CiCi's Pizza; company appoints Michael R. Shumsky as incoming chief executive officer.
-- Chain Leader, 8/25/2009 8:23:00 AM
PRESS RELEASE: August 24, 2009 (Coppell, Texas) - CiCi Enterprises, LP ("CiCi's Pizza") announced today that President Craig Moore would be retiring from his position after 17 years with the company. Mr. Moore will remain a significant owner in the company. CiCi's Pizza also announced today that it has named an incoming Chief Executive Officer, Michael R. Shumsky, most recently Chief Executive Officer at La Madeleine Restaurant, Inc. Mr. Moore will stay on until the transition is complete.
Mr. Moore joined the company in 1992 as a restaurant manager, and worked his way into ownership and President in 2003. He has seen CiCi's Pizza grow from 30 restaurants in one state with 17 franchisees to over 650 restaurants in 32 states with 270 franchisees. Moore oversaw the company's transition from a local group of restaurants to a national chain with restaurants from coast to coast that is emerging as a significant brand in the pizza segment.
"After almost 17 years, it is with mixed emotions that I have decided to step down from my day to day position at CiCi's Pizza to pursue my long term personal goals," said Mr. Moore. "I have been the luckiest guy in the industry to be able to work with the unbelievably talented team at CiCi's Pizza and JMC. These professionals have wowed me time after time with their ability, work effort, and their whole-hearted belief and execution of a culture that has set this company apart from all others."
"The naming of an experienced restaurant executive like Mike Shumsky leaves CiCi's in very capable hands," said Bob Kulick, President of JMC Restaurant Distribution, CiCi's Distribution arm. "With his experience in franchising and growing great brands, he will be a great addition to the CiCi's team. Mike sees what is special about CiCi's and why we are loved by our guests. He will positively influence CiCi's current growth trajectory."
"CiCi's is an awesome company with great franchisees that deliver the Brand's industry-recognized 'guest first service' every day. During his tenure," said Mr. Shumsky, "Craig and the management team have built a strong foundation and they have taken the company to a high operating level. I hear from people all the time how much they love the CiCi's brand and how it consistently delivers on its 'quality at a great value' brand positioning. I look forward to working with this management team to serve our franchisees, WOW our guests and grow this great CiCi's brand."
Shumsky will be leaving La Madeleine Restaurant, Inc., a Dallas-based 62-unit country French Café restaurant chain operating in six states. Prior to La Madeleine Mr. Shumsky was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the California based Johnny Rockets Group, Inc. which operated in 28 states and 8 countries where he grew the franchise system and improved operations which led the company to be awarded Nations Restaurant News "Hot Again" award. Mr. Shumsky was President of Sonic Restaurants before joining Johnny Rockets and was charged with the management of over 1800 restaurants and had the responsibility for franchise and company operations, training, franchise development, human resources as well as restaurant construction and design. Mr. Shumsky also spent 15 years of his restaurant career with Yum Brands at Taco Bell where he held a number of senior financial and operations positions. He lives in Allen, Texas with his wife Cindy and earned an MBA from Pepperdine University.
About CiCi's Pizza
Founded in 1985, CiCi's Pizza is a family-oriented restaurant serving guests fresh pizza, pasta, salad and dessert, all you want for about five bucks and change. CiCi's mission then and now is to exceed each guest's expectation in food, service and cleanliness at an affordable price. Since opening its first restaurant in Plano, Texas, CiCi's has grown to almost 650 restaurants in 32 states.
In 2006, CiCi's introduced the carry-out only To-Go restaurants with 13 operating in Texas, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma and California.
Industry professionals have taken notice of CiCi's Pizza's continuous growth and success. Nation's Restaurant News has ranked CiCi's number one for sales and unit growth in the pizza chain category for the past three years. In its recent 2009 ranking, Entrepreneur magazine's Annual Franchise Top 500 issue, ranked CiCi's Pizza as number one in the Italian restaurant industry category an honor the company also received in 2007. Men's Health recently included CiCi's Pizza in it's list of America's Healthiest Restaurants. StartupJournal.com, The Wall Street Journal's guide for entrepreneurs, ranked CiCi's as one of the top 25 highest-performing brands in the nation and Franchise Today placed the company in the top 200 of all franchise concepts. Other honors include "Best in Value" award among national pizza chains in Restaurants and Institutions magazine's 2006 Consumers' Choice Report and "Best Customer Service" from Corporate Research International in 2007, 2006 and 2005. For more information visit www.cicispizza.com.
