Maybe for this company the restaurant business is like a box of chocolates. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurants operates and franchises about 30 themed eateries under the name Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant & Market. Inspired by the 1994 film Forrest Gump, the casual dining restaurants offer a menu of seafood appetizers, entrees, and sandwiches. The chain has about 20 restaurants in 10 states along with another dozen international locations; most Bubba Gump units are found at tourist destinations such as the Mall of America and the Universal Orlando theme park. Former CEO Scott Barnett created the chain after striking a licensing deal with Paramount Pictures in 1996.

Southern Maid Donuts began in 1937 by Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Hargrove. A young couple coming out of the throws of the Great Depression, they created Southern Maid because they saw the need in the market for quality donuts. They created their own recipes, which have stood the test of time. Quality ingredients and uncompromised procedures are reason for the continued success of the Hargrove family to this very day. The Southern Maid name came about because of being from the South. Mr. and Mrs. Hargrove wanted a name that encompassed a feeling as well as humble southern traditions and memories. Part of this Southern Maid tradition was a large sponsorship for several years of the Louisiana Hayride Show in Shreveport, Louisiana. Many a young entertainer sang the praises of Southern Maid Donuts. An interesting note: Elvis did the only commercial of his life for any product on November 6th, 1954 for Southern Maid Donuts. He sang the jingle. "You can get them piping hot after 4 P.M., you can get them piping hot, Southern Maid Donuts hits the spot, you can get them piping hot after 4 P.M." Elvis frequented the Shreveport store for donuts on his visits to the Louisiana Hayride. Other entertainers that sang the praises of Southern Maid include Minnie Pearl, Johnny Horton, and Johnny Cash.

The Caffe Nero philosophy is really very simple. Coffee. Atmosphere. Food and service are the key elements to our business and excellence in all four areas is required in order to achieve our aim. Caffe Nero Group Ltd. are dedicated to providing our customers with a great cup of coffee and a quality snack in a warm, authentic European coffee house atmosphere served in a friendly manner. Nothing less than this is acceptable. The linchpin of our brand is our coffee. We place great emphasis and expend copious amounts of time and energy on supplying a high quality range of espresso – based coffee. Caffe Nero Group Ltd. use a unique Italian blend made up of seven different beans for our house coffee, which is exclusive to Caffè Nero and roasted to our precise specifications. The final product is a richer, stronger coffee flavour than that served by our rivals.

The Motherwell Football & Athletic Club operates Motherwell FC, a professional soccer team that competes in the Scottish Premier League. The team (nicknamed The 'Well and The Steelmen) holds its home games at Fir Park Stadium. Like other teams in the Scottish Premier League, Motherwell FC must sit and watch (and pocket the transfer fee) as some of its best players get signed away by other top Scottish squads. The team's home uniform is a gold short-sleeved shirt with a thick red stripe and matching red shorts. Media broadcasts of the matches along with ticket receipts make up the bulk of the club's revenues.

Tropical Smoothie Franchise Development operates a chain of more than 280 franchised fruit snack outlets in Florida and more than 30 other states. The chain specializes in real fruit smoothies, including low-fat, dessert, and power varieties; its menu includes such items as Blimey Limey, Mocha Madness, Blue Lagoon, and Get Up and Goji. Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations also offer salads, soups, wraps, and sandwiches, as well as breakfast items. In addition, many locations provide catering services. Eric Jenrich and his wife Delora opened the first Tropical Smoothie Cafe in 1993.

Consolidated Restaurants operates about a dozen upscale and casual-dining restaurants in the Seattle area, including DC's Grill, The Metropolitan Grill, Steamer's Seafood Cafe, Quincy's Chargrilled Burgers, and Wing Dome Restaurants, and Elliott's Oyster House. Consolidated Restaurants' Royal Argosy is a fine dining dinner ship (operating in partnership with Argosy Cruises) that offers lunch and dinner cruises around Puget Sound. The late David Cohn founded Consolidated Restaurants as Barb Enterprises when he opened his first restaurant in Seattle in 1951.

The Tiki gods command your attention at these dining spots. Trader Vic's oversees a chain of more than 30 licensed restaurants and lounges popular for their over-the-top Tiki bar decor and potent tropical beverages. Operating under the Trader Vic's and Trader Vic's Mai Tai Lounge names, the restaurants feature a menu of appetizers, Asian cuisine, and island-inspired eats, along with such traditional favorites as steak, pork, and seafood. Most Trader Vic's locations are found in and around resort hotels and other tourist destinations around the world. The company is controlled by the family of Victor Bergeron, inventor of the Mai Tai, who opened his first restaurant in 1934.

Minnesota Timberwolves Basketball owns and operates the Minnesota Timberwolves professional basketball franchise, which joined the National Basketball Association as an expansion franchise in 1989. Playing host at the Target Center in Minneapolis, the Wolves have yet to claim an NBA Finals appearance. Local businessmen Harvey Ratner and Marv Wolfenson were first awarded the franchise; Glen Taylor, chairman of printing giant Taylor Corporation, led a group of investors who bought the team in 1995.

Carlson Restaurants Worldwide (CRW) has a lot of Friday's for which to be thankful. A leader in full-service restaurants, the company operates and franchises more than 900 T.G.I. Friday's casual dining locations across the US and in about 60 other countries. The restaurant chain offers a menu featuring beef, chicken, and seafood entrees along with a selection of popular appetizers. About 300 T.G.I. Friday's units are company-owned while the rest are franchised. The company also operates Pick Up Stix, an Asian-themed fast-casual chain with more than 90 locations in California, Nevada, and Arizona. CRW is a subsidiary of travel and leisure conglomerate Carlson Companies.

Family-owned Shibley Management operates Yours Truly Restaurants, a chain of about 10 family-style eateries in the Cleveland area. The restaurants offer traditional American fare for lunch and dinner, such as chicken broils and hamburgers, as well as an all-day breakfast menu that includes specialty omelets. Brothers Larry, Art, and Jeffrey Shibley opened the first Yours Truly location in 1981.

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