News

UFood awarded military contract

March 6, 2011

UFood Restaurant Group Inc. has announced that the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) has awarded the company a contract to build and operate two UFood Grill units at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) in Maryland. The restaurants are projected to open in May.

Established in 1917, Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) was founded as a site for material development and testing for the U.S. Army. The 72,000-acre site houses 70 tenants with nearly 15 million square feet of space in more than 2,000 buildings.

The company also recently announced the establishment of a Health & Nutrition Advisory Panel, comprised of current and retired military members, to advise the company as it continues to explore development opportunities on military bases. UFood plans to expand the panel in line with its growth in other trade channels. Among other activities, the volunteer panel will convene bi-annually to review menu development and discuss trends in health, nutrition and diet, in particular, the dietary needs of the military.

Additionally, UFood Grill has been listed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on its official Franchise Registry. The Franchise Registry is a compilation of franchise systems that have had their franchise agreement reviewed by the SBA, thereby materially expediting the loan approval process for franchise investors and ensuring a consistent eligibility decision. The list of approved systems is available at www.FranchiseRegistry.com.

Among the SBA’s programs is the Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative for veterans and members of the military community who want to establish or expand small businesses. Eligible military community members include veterans, reservists, National Guard members and their spouses.