Collins Foods history

After a three-year stay at A&W, Gregory briefly served as president of Red Barn Systems of Canada before joining Collins Foods in 1974 as vice-president.

He met Frankie at the first World Food Conference in Rome in 1975.

In January 1977 Food First’s offices were moved from Frankie’s house in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, to an office above a bakery on Mission Street in San Francisco.

By 1979, Food First staff had expanded to ten full-time and six part-time staff, plus at least 25 interns.

As they had before 1980, Sizzler units would continue to offer limited table service, thereby realizing savings in labor costs.

Food First’s 1981 book Circle of Poison led to the creation of Pesticide Action Network, an international network of groups concerned about pesticide poisoning.

1984 – Original Fillet Burger introduced

1985 – Opened first Sizzler restaurant in Australia and 50th KFC restaurant

In 1986, Food First staffers Kevin Danaher and Medea Benjamin opened a fair trade store in a small garage front in San Francisco, which led to the creation of the organization Global Exchange the following year.

Medea Benjamin (R) receives Bay Area Book Award for Don’t Be Afraid Gringo in 1987

Holly Near, Mollie Katzen & Frances Moore Lappé in 1988

1989 – First food court restaurant format for KFC introduced

In September 1990, Sizzler announced it was merging into its parent company, Collins Foods.

The sale was completed in 1991 for a total of US$123 million.

Gregory served as president, delaying his planned retirement until April 1992.

Beginning in 1994, Food First stepped up its campaign for the economic human rights of all people to access the resources to feed themselves and their communities, including two congressional hearings and two bus tours with the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Institute for Policy Studies.

In 1996, after debts reached approximately US$100 million, the company filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The company emerged from bankruptcy in June 1997, possessing 69 company-operated units in the United States, 39 company-operated units overseas, 199 franchised units operating domestically, and 97 units operating overseas.

Karen Dolan, Anuradha Mittal, Harry Belafonte & Peter Rosset on the Food First & Institute for Policy Studies Economic Human Rights Bus Tour in 1999

In May 2000, Sizzler International announced it would purchase an 82% stake in the Oscar's restaurant chain for $21 million in cash and stock.

In 2001, the company was renamed as Worldwide Restaurant Concepts.

Food First also published the story of one of the most successful grassroots movements for land in the world—Brazil’s Landless Workers’ Movment (MST)—in Angus Wright and Wendy Wolford’s 2003 book, To Inherit the Earth: The Landless Movement and the Struggle for a New Brazil.

In 2005, Worldwide Restaurant Concepts was acquired by Australian private equity firm, Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) for about US$208 million is cash.

With over years experience working with farmers in Central America, Eric Holt-Giménez joined Food First as its Executive Director in 2006.

In February 2008, PEP put Sizzler up for sale.

In January 2009, the management team of Pat & Oscar's bought out the company.

In 2010, Food First launched its Food Sovereignty Tours program to bring scholars, activists and farmers to the front lines of the global food movement.

Food First fellow Zoe Brent (bottom-R) leading a Food Sovereignty Tour to Cuba in 2011

Eric Holt-Giménez & Joann Lo at the opening of the Food Labor Center at UC Berkeley in 2012

In November 2013, Collins Foods acquired the 44 KFC restaurants (40 in Western Australia and 4 in the Northern Territory) owned by Competitive Foods Australia for $55.6 million.

By 2015 Collins Foods wrote down the value of Sizzler by AU$37.5 million.

In May 2016 Collins Foods further acquired 13 KFC restaurants in New South Wales and Victoria.

In June 2017, Collins Foods acquired 28 KFC stores in Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia from Yum! Brands for $110.2 million.

On 6 September 2018, Collins Foods announced that it has purchased the franchise rights to Taco Bell in Australia.

As of May 2020, Collins Foods operates 240 KFC restaurants in Australia, 17 in Germany, and 23 in the Netherlands.