Al Copeland Investments Hires Andy Gunkler as Chief Franchise Officer

Date AddedJuly 22, 2009 01:59:03 PM

Author

Industry Veteran to Lead Franchise Expansion for Iconic New Orleans Brand

NEW ORLEANS, July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Al Copeland Investments (ACI), owner and operator of a wide variety of restaurants, hotels, comedy clubs and custom food manufacturing operation has announced the appointment of Andy Gunkler as Chief Franchise Development Officer for the Restaurant Division. At ACI, Gunkler will focus on market expansion and identifying new franchise opportunities for two of the company's restaurant concepts: Copeland's of New Orleans and Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro.

"Andy's versatile and impressive background, coupled with his vast knowledge of the industry, provides a perfect fit to lead Copeland's brands' franchising efforts as we continue to grow and look forward to the future," said Al Copeland, Jr., Chairman of the Board for ACI. "Andy has been successful in structuring programs and identifying opportunities that support market expansion. ACI is currently poised for growth and the infrastructure of our company has been designed specifically to support franchises, which makes this a perfect time for Andy to join the team."

Gunkler has more than 25 years of experience in franchise and finance. His experience comes from companies such as Houlihan's Restaurant Group, Kelsey's International, Quaker Steak & Lube, and East Side Mario's. He is a versatile and proactive business development and financial professional with a consistent record of success, managing $100 million portfolios of Fortune 500 clients and marketing franchise agreements for leaders in the food service industry.

"I'm excited to be joining Al Copeland Investments and their unique concept of restaurant brands with chef crafted New Orleans cuisine," said Gunkler. "I see a lot of opportunity to expand ACI's reach to new markets through fresh, previously-untapped franchising possibilities. I look forward to using my experience to help the company achieve its goals and surpass expectations."

Gunkler, a graduate of Wabash College with a B.S. in Economics and a Minor in Psychology, worked as a banker for 10 years doing Fortune 500 lending before switching to franchise development.

About Al Copeland Investments (ACI)

Founded by legendary restaurateur Al Copeland, Al Copeland Investments (ACI) is one of the premium names in the hospitality industry owning a number of leading food, restaurant and entertainment enterprises. The ACI family of companies includes 30 restaurants, hotels and comedy clubs throughout the United States, including Copeland's Diversified Food and Seasonings, Copeland's of New Orleans, Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro, Copeland's Social City, Amor Fiory Steakhouse de Brazil Churrascaria and Improv Comedy Club & Dinner Theater, among others. An icon in Southern cuisine and the founder of Popeye's Famous Fried Chicken & Biscuits Restaurants, Al Copeland's memory lives on through the Al Copeland Foundation which is dedicated to the eradication of Merkel Cell Carcinoma, the disease that took Copeland's life. For more information on ACI and the Al Copeland Foundation, visit www.alcopeland.com and www.alcopelandfoundation.org.