Dine Originals, Avendra Join Forces-Procurement Company Adds $450 Million to Buying Power

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DINE ORIGINALS ENTERS AGREEMENT WITH AVENDRA
Nation’s Leading Hospitality Procurement Firm Adds $450 Million Buying Power

Tucson, AZ- Don Luria, President of Dine Originals, announced today his organization has completed an agreement that will facilitate access by his members to Avendra, America’s top hospitality procurement company. “Independent restaurateurs struggle to face the increasingly challenging task of running a profitable business,” said Luria, who is also proprietor of Tucson favorite, Terra Cotta. “I feel one way they can gain some breathing space is via our new relationship with Avendra. Now all of our member restaurants, no matter how big or small, can access the buying might of a company that negotiates $2 billion in contracts annually.”

Luria cites the escalating cost of goods and services related to both the immediate and long-term effects of Katrina’s devastation and uncertainty over rising oil prices as cause for constant concern. “In order to maintain our footing as Independent operators, we have to be ever vigilant of our costs. It’s a necessary evil that can steal all of our energy. That’s what makes our agreement with Avendra so important—-getting the highest quality goods for the fairest price is their bailiwick.” explained Luria. “It gives us time to do what we do best—-orchestrate a dining experience whose flavor lingers in your memory long after the check is paid and the babysitter driven home.”

“Don highlights the key benefit of a why companies choose to partner with Avendra—-our expertise is around procurement and supply chain management We offer a wide range of procurement services that support successful restaurants, hotels, cruise ships, etc. These businesses leverage our buying power and tap into our procurement expertise, which saves them money, but it also frees up valuable time and resources that allows them to better focus on their own key strategic business objectives – mainly keeping guests happy and driving repeat business,” said Dennis Baker, Avendra President and CEO.

Baker said that his company is able to supply everything a neighborhood or upscale casual dining restaurant is likely to need, and also has a gourmet foods program that will perfectly complement white table cloth, fine dining menus. “Also, from an Independent restaurant’s perspective, the fact that we are a professional services company means that we offer more than just cost savings. Our customers have access to valuable services such as in-depth reporting that helps track spending behavior, category/product knowledge and trend information from our product experts, quality assurance at every stage of the supply chain, price audit reviews – and much more.”

Perhaps the most important component of the new alliance is gaining purchasing parity with large corporate restaurant chains. “Since corporate restaurants have saturated the fast food market and are quickly filling up the ranks of casual dining, they’ve set their sights on fine dining to maintain the kind of growth stock holders expect and demand,” said Luria. “As Independents watch our slice of the pie get smaller and smaller with each corporate restaurant opening, we need a way to avail ourselves of the same preferential pricing the corporate restaurant giants demand. I look to Avendra to achieve that for us,” he explained.

About Avendra
Avendra is North America's leading procurement services company serving hospitality-related industries. Avendra customers gain access to contracts leveraging $2 billion of annual purchases, expert advisory services and in-depth purchasing data and analysis. Through Avendra, customers obtain substantial savings on their purchases and other value added services to improve their operations and bottom line results. Formed in 2001, the company is headquartered in Rockville, MD and has regional offices throughout the United States and Canada. For more information visit www.avendra.com.

About Dine Originals
Dine Originals represents more than 700 Independent restaurant with chapters in twenty cities; Albuquerque, Birmingham, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Louisville, Madison, Milwaukee, Nashville, St. Louis, San Diego, Sarasota, Tucson, Twin Cities, Washington DC and Mt. Washington Valley, NH and over 100 ‘at large’ restaurants not affiliated with any particular chapter.

For more information, go to: www.DineOriginals.com or contact Don Luria at President@dineoriginals.com.