SHERMAN OAKS, CA: The Sizzler restaurant chain has hired Brad Ritter Communications to handle PR as it launches a drive to expand the number of franchisees running Sizzler outlets.
The chain now has 225 franchised and 86 company-owned locations in 17 states and nine countries. It wants to add 200 new franchisees in the next five years, said Todd Peterson, VP of development.
Peterson, who had worked with Ritter in a previous job, joined Sizzler in May. He hired Ritter, based in Columbus, OH, because of his satisfaction with the work the agency did for his last employer.
The Sizzler chain, owned by Worldwide Restaurant Concepts, has been in existence since 1958, but ran into tough financial times, filing for bankruptcy in the late '90s.
The chain has staged a comeback in recent years, Peterson said. He wants Ritter to get that message out to the restaurant business and potential franchisees.
Brad Ritter, agency president, will head a three-person team on the account.
