Rainforest Cafe, Inc: Outline To Rainforest Cafe Research Report :: essays research papers fc

rain forest cafe, Inc Outline to Rainforest cafe Research ReportCORPORATE BACKGROUNDHistoryFormationRainforest Cafe, Inc. was incorporated in Minnesota on February 3, 1994 to ownand operate restaurant and retail facilities under the name of "Rainforest Cafe- A kookie Place to Shop and Eat."Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive ships officerElection. Lyle Berman was elected Chairman and CEO of Rainforest Cafe at its extraction in February 1994.Background. Berman has been Chairman and CEO of Grand Casinos, Inc. and itspredecessor since October 1990. He is as well CEO and a director of StratosphereCorporation, and a director of G-III Apparel sort Ltd., Innovative GamingCorporation of America and New Horizon Kids Quest, Inc. He previously was the electric chair and CEO of Berman Specialty Stores, Inc. ("Bermans") from 1978 untilNovember 1988 when Bermans was acquired by Wilson Suede and Leather, asubsidiary of Melville Corporation.President and Chief Operating OfficerElection. Martin J. ODowd was elected in May of 1995. He is the first to holdthis position. As of November 18, 1996 ODowd has taken a 30 day blank out ofabsence for personal reasons. Dennis Nielson, analyst for R. J. Steichen,predicts that if the leave is only 30 days there should not be a lasting impacton the conjunction (Nielson, November 18, 1996).Background. ODowd is a director of Elephant and palace Group, Inc. He waspreviously the Corporate Director, Food & Beverage run for Holiday InnWorldwide from July 1987 to May 1995. From August 1985 to July 1987, ODowd wasVice President and General Operations Manager for the Hard Rock Cafe in New York.Management Philosophy. Berman and ODowd stated that they are committed toidentifying and acquiring the resources that provide allow them to continue theirhigh rate of growth.Main ActivitiesRainforest Cafe has two areas of each facility, the restaurant and the retailarea.RestaurantThe company believes that its Brobdingnagian menu selection is an important factor in theappeal of its restaurants. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner entrees whichrange in price from $7.95 to $15.95. The theme of the company is mirrored onthe menu with all food and beverage selections including a jungle reference(Annual Report, 1995).The restaurant derived approximately 74 percent of the companies centre taxduring the 52 week period ending December 31, 1995.retail AreaIn order to enter the restaurant, all customers must hold out through the retailarea. The inventory includes apparel and gifts with the Rainforest Cafe logotype andother items with a rainforest theme such as toys and educational games.The retail area derived approximately 26 percent of the companies total revenue