Shakey's names Stone president

Shakey's names Stone president

Even after Shakey's comes up with some of those answers, skyrocketing occupancy cost and the intense competition for good sites are bound to make it difficult for Stone to realize his goal of filling in markets, Bergren predicts.Re-establishing a company-store presence will be easier in the Northwest than in a lot of markets, he said, because Shakey's has been in that region since 1955 and enjoys some penetration and a "heritage."Smith says Shakey's has valuable assets in some of its most successful franchisees, its food products, and the "warm fuzzies" many people associate with the long-running chain."I think I know how to put an organization together and get its members to focus on the [important] issues -- if you can keep them [employees] focused, the [necessary] changes will come," Stone says.Stone stresses that the reworking of the Shakey's concept will be an "evolutionary" process.

Before joining Skipper's, Stone did stints in executive positions with Long John Silver's and Lum's.

Author: Alan Liddle