PURCHASE, NY (July 20, 2011) – Stevi B’s, the restaurant industry’s only national premium pizza buffet franchise, today announced it has signed an agreement with PepsiCo for exclusive beverage pouring rights in all of its 44 locations. A Coca-Cola customer since 1996, the Atlanta-based company made the decision to switch to PepsiCo beverages after a 15 year relationship. Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed. Stevi B’s is owned by the private equity firm – Argonne Capital, significant owner of IHOP franchisees.
“We’re tremendously excited about our new partnership with PepsiCo, and believe that this relationship will play a significant role in growing the Stevi B’s brand at a pace that’s outperforming industry norms,” said Matt Loney, president of Stevi B’s. “Pepsi has a focused approach to relationship marketing, and we’re confident Pepsi will provide the partnership, integrated marketing support and customer service we need to take Stevi B’s to the next level.”
“PepsiCo was happy to provide the franchise with the right culture, the right marketing activation, and the right guest relevant, standardized beverage lineup. We believe PepsiCo brings added value to the Stevi B’s business, and we’re excited about the partnership,” said Stacy Reichert, senior vice president and chief customer officer of PepsiCo’s Foodservice division. “From customized promotions to consumer insights to delivering a portfolio of beverages consumers love, we’re able to deliver an all around win – for both the customer and Stevi B’s fans.”
Rhonda Levene, vice president of customer acquisition for PepsiCo said, “We are thrilled to welcome Stevi B’s to the PepsiCo family. Stevi B’s is a fast growing concept. Our culture, insights, and marketing tools set us up to support their growth.”
About Stevi B’s
Stevi B’s, the industry’s only national “premium” pizza buffet restaurant franchise, was founded in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, and now stretches across 9 states, with over 40 locations. As a family friendly, community-driven brand, Stevi B’s is re-inventing the pizza category with a distinct menu of specialty pizzas such as the Loaded Baked Potato, Chicken Fajita, Cheeseburger and Spinach Alfredo, all served fresh and at a great value in an atmosphere that is fun for adults and children. With over 20% unit count growth over each of the past three years, Stevi B’s Pizza is primed for growth throughout the United States. Check out Stevi B’s Pizza on Facebook at www.facebook.com/stevibspizza, on the web at www.SteviBs.com or contact Stevi B’s by e-mail at info@SteviBs.com.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo offers the world’s largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 19 different product lines that generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales each. Our main businesses — Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay, and Pepsi Cola — also make hundreds of other enjoyable and wholesome foods and beverages that are respected household names throughout the world. With net revenues of approximately $60 billion, PepsiCo’s people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo’s promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment, including by conserving energy and water usage, and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support, and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.