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Bob Evans Restaurants history
Bob Evans Restaurants company history timeline
The increased traffic led him to build the first company restaurant at the farm in 1962 that was named "The Sausage Shop".
By 1963, when the company changed its name to Bob Evans Farms, Inc., the sales territory covered most of Ohio.
The first move out of Ohio was into Michigan in 1964.
The corporate headquarters were shifted from Gallipolis to 3776 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio, in 1968.
First Bob Evans Restaurant: 1968
The success of the Sausage Shop encouraged the company to open the first of what would become the Bob Evans restaurant chain in 1968.
1974: The fourth sausage production plant opens in Galva, Illinois.
In the meantime, Bob Evans Farms reached an agreement in September 1980 to be acquired by nationwide food conglomerate Beatrice Foods Inc.
The company acquired Texas-based Owens Country Sausage in 1987.
By the fiscal year ending in April 1988, the company was reporting net profits of $29 million on revenues of $395 million.
1988: The first Owens Restaurant opens in Irving, Texas.
Unit managers were given greater autonomy and increased accountability for the performance of their individual units. As a result of the 1990 management restructuring, managers received higher compensation, stock options, and better training.
Beginning March 4, 1991, a new Bob Evans prototype restaurant was unveiled, from a design featured in an Indianapolis restaurant.
In June 1991 the company established Bob Evans foodservice division, which sold food products directly to distributors and institutions.
The Mexican food business was the fastest growing segment in the restaurant industry in 1991 at 18.3 percent.
Another acquisition occurred in March 1992, when Bob Evans Farms bought Hickory Specialties, Inc. for $3 million.
By 1993 there were 13 Owens Family Restaurants in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
The first unit was opened in Bellefontaine, Ohio, in the spring of 1993.
Six more Cantina del Rios were scheduled to open in the Midwest in 1994.
In August 1995 he was named Bob Evans Farms' president and chief operating officer.
The food product line grew with the additions of maple sausage links and frozen biscuits and rolls in 1995, and bacon, ham steaks, and frozen entrees the following year.
1996: The Cantina del Rio chain is shuttered.
Meantime, an accelerated pace of new restaurant openings--though slowed down in 1997--meant that the company's 400th restaurant, located in Columbia, Missouri, opened in August 1997, less than three and a half years after the 300th.
Early results from these changes were encouraging as same-store sales for the fiscal year ending in April 1998 were up 4.6 percent.
Dan Evans retired as chairman in April 2001, having served 30 years in that position.
2001: Revenues top $1 billion for first time.
The Bob Evans Express line was introduced into grocery stores in February 2003.
Although the company maintained a much slower growth rate over the next two years, profits jumped from $50.8 million to $75.1 million in 2003, while net profit margins increased from 5 percent to 6.9 percent.
2003: A food production plant in Sulphur Springs, Texas, is purchased.
In July 2004, Bob Evans Farms purchased the California-based Mimi's Cafe restaurant chain (operating under SWH Corporation) for $182 million.
By 2004, the company operated more than five hundred restaurants in the United States, including not only Bob Evans Restaurants but also Owens Restaurants and Mimi's Cafe Restaurants.
After operating for several months under interim CEO Larry Corbin, the company hired Steven Davis, former president of Long John Silver's, as CEO in May 2006.
Bob Evans Farms sold Mimi's Cafe to the United States branch of Groupe Le Duff in 2013.
In December 2015, the chain announced its intention to sell 145 properties to Mesirow Financial Holdings Inc. for $165–175 million.
Both the sale of the restaurant division to Golden Gate Capital and the purchase of Pineland Farms Potato Company closed on March 1, 2017.
On September 19, 2017, Bob Evans Farms announced that it would be acquired by Post Holdings.
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Bob Evans Restaurants competitors
| Company name | Founded date | Revenue | Employee size | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darden Restaurants | 1968 | $11.4B | 175,000 | 6,307 |
| Chipotle Mexican Grill | 1993 | $11.3B | 64,570 | 6,061 |
| Boston Market | 1985 | $373.0M | 14,000 | - |
| Sonic Drive-In | 1953 | $423.6M | 5,000 | 6,564 |
| Wendy's | 1969 | $2.2B | 12,500 | 8,508 |
| Captain D's | 1969 | $544.4M | 6,000 | 95 |
| Cracker Barrel | 1969 | - | 55,000 | 5,349 |
| Denny's | 1953 | $452.3M | 3,100 | 1,566 |
| IHOP | 1958 | $349.6M | 32,300 | 1,567 |
| Red Robin | 1969 | $1.2B | 24,586 | 1,100 |
Bob Evans Restaurants history FAQs
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Bob Evans Restaurants may also be known as or be related to Bob Evans Farms, Inc., Bob Evans Farms, Bob Evans Farms Inc, BOB EVANS FARMS INC and Bob Evans Restaurants.