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Industry toasts honorees, 50 years of MUFSO at anniversary gala

Industry toasts honorees, 50 years of MUFSO at anniversary gala

DALLAS —James Greco, chief executive of Bruegger’s Bagels, was named Operator of the Year by Nation’s Restaurant News during the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference here recently.

The announcement came during a reception in which guests celebrated the 50th anniversary of MUFSO, honored various industry luminaries and toasted the legacy of the late Norman Brinker, founder of Brinker International. —James Greco, chief executive of Bruegger’s Bagels, was named Operator of the Year by Nation’s Restaurant News during the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference here recently.

In keeping with the golden-anniversary theme, guests mingled amid food stations that represented each of the past five decades. They featured such period dishes and cultural phenomena as hula hoops, fondue, Pac-Man video consoles, sushi, sliders and a Guitar Hero video game. Music from the various decades was played during the cocktail reception. —James Greco, chief executive of Bruegger’s Bagels, was named Operator of the Year by Nation’s Restaurant News during the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference here recently.

The event was sponsored by marquee sponsor The Beef Check-off as well as supporting sponsors The Elliot Group and Sweet Street Desserts. —James Greco, chief executive of Bruegger’s Bagels, was named Operator of the Year by Nation’s Restaurant News during the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference here recently.

Greco, who has overseen a turnaround of Bruegger’s Bagels since joining the company in 2003, was selected as Operator of the Year by the readers of Nation’s Restaurant News from among this year’s six Golden Chain award winners. In addition to Greco, the honorees were Chuck Fallon, president of Burger King North America; Phil Friedman, chairman and chief executive of McAlister’s Deli; Jeffrey Harvey, president and chief executive of Burgerville; Randy Kibler, president and chief executive of Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ’n Biscuits; and Cameron Mitchell, president and chief executive of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants. —James Greco, chief executive of Bruegger’s Bagels, was named Operator of the Year by Nation’s Restaurant News during the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference here recently.

The evening also included a tribute to Brinker, an industry icon who founded such chains as Chili’s Grill & Bar and Steak & Ale and served as the chairman to this year’s MUFSO conference until his death in June. Brinker’s wife, Toni, and several of his protégés gave speeches. —James Greco, chief executive of Bruegger’s Bagels, was named Operator of the Year by Nation’s Restaurant News during the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference here recently.

Doug Brooks, the chairman and chief executive of the company that bears Brinker’s name, Brinker International Inc., said that Brinker’s legacy is more than the restaurant companies he founded and led. —James Greco, chief executive of Bruegger’s Bagels, was named Operator of the Year by Nation’s Restaurant News during the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference here recently.

“He taught us how to build a restaurant, how to build a restaurant chain, how to build a restaurant company,” Brooks said. “But at the heart of it all, he really taught us how to build great people.” —James Greco, chief executive of Bruegger’s Bagels, was named Operator of the Year by Nation’s Restaurant News during the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference here recently.

To continue that legacy, Nation’s Restaurant News has created The Norman, an industry award that will celebrate foodservice leaders who have distinguished themselves through the mentoring of tomorrow’s executives, much as Brinker did throughout his career. The first Norman award will be given at next year’s Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference in Orlando, Fla. —James Greco, chief executive of Bruegger’s Bagels, was named Operator of the Year by Nation’s Restaurant News during the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference here recently.

Richard Melman, founder and chief executive of Chicago’s Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, accepted NRN’s 2009 Pioneer Award during the celebration. Melman’s trailblazing restaurant company, which has 78 restaurants representing more than 30 brands, has served as a model for many multiconcept operators nationwide.— [email protected] —James Greco, chief executive of Bruegger’s Bagels, was named Operator of the Year by Nation’s Restaurant News during the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference here recently.

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