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Sizzler

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This article is about the U.S.-based restaurant company. For the Australia-based restaurant company, seeCollins Foods.For other uses, seeSizzler (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Indian restaurants named after theIndian dish called "sizzlers".

Sizzler USA Restaurants, Inc.
Sizzler
Company typePrivate
IndustryRestaurants
Founded1958;66 years ago(1958)inCulver City, California,as Del's Sizzler Family Steak House
FoundersDel and Helen Johnson
HeadquartersMission Viejo, California,U.S.
Number of locations
84[1]
Area served
United States
Key people
James A. Collins, CEO (1967–1999)
ProductsSteak,seafood,salads
Websitewww.sizzler.com

Sizzler USA Restaurants, Inc.,doing business asSizzler,is a United States-based[2]restaurant chainwith headquarters inMission Viejo, California,with locations mainly inCalifornia,plus some in the nearby states ofArizona,Nevada,New Mexico,Idaho,Utah,OregonandPuerto Rico.It is known forsteak,seafood,andsalad baritems.

Since 2023, Sizzler restaurants outside of the United States are owned by Thailand-basedMinor Internationaland are not related to the American firm.

In September 2020, Sizzler USA filed forChapter 11 bankruptcydue to theCOVID-19 pandemichurting sales. The bankruptcy filing does not affect the similarly named Minor International affiliated restaurants that are located outside of the United States.

History

Sizzler logo used from 1981 to 1996
Sizzler logo used from 1981 to 1996

The chain was founded in 1958 asSizzler Family Steak Houseby Del and Helen Johnson inCulver City, California.[3]At its peak, the chain was composed of more than 270 locations throughout the U.S.[4]Most of Sizzler's U.S. locations are in theWest.

Steak and lobster with fries from Sizzler

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Sizzler promoted steak and combination steak dinners with an optionalsalad bar.The restaurant wanted to give customers the feel of a full-service restaurant at a price slightly more than afast foodchain. To control costs, many restaurants had in-house meat cutters that would cut steaks and grind beef.

Into the early to mid 1980s, competition appeared:Ponderosa Steakhouse and Bonanza Steakhouse.After promotions, such asall-you-can-eatfried shrimp, the chain expanded its salad bar into a fullbuffetpromoted as the "Buffet Court". Patrons began to use the buffet as a meal instead of an add-on to an entree. In response, Sizzler lowered the quality in other menu areas.[5]Sizzler also introduced a free grilled cheese bread roll at the start of the experience which was intended to line the stomach, curbing appetite. Customers took notice, and Sizzler's reputation suffered.

Sizzler filed forChapter 11 bankruptcyin 1996 ( "to escape costly leases on unprofitable restaurants" ), and closed over 130 of its locations.[6][7][8]The company reemerged from Chapter 11 in 1997. During the late 1990s, new management upgraded the quality of food and increased prices. Twenty one locations closed in 2001. Sizzler began an image makeover circa 2002. A new restaurant concept was created, featuring a lighter and more open dining room. The changes were accompanied by a new menu. In an effort to return to its roots, Sizzler emphasized steaks, seafood, and the salad bar. While the all-you-can-eat buffet was phased out in some locations, it remained in many others.[5]

In the 1990s, Sizzler ran upscale locations with the Buffalo Ranch Steakhouse brand.[9][10][11]

Sizzler was sold toPacific Equity Partners,an Australian-based investment firm, in 2005.[2]In January 2008, Sizzler announced it was planning to take action against theMulti-State Lottery Association(MUSL) ofUrbandale, Iowa,over the use of the nameThe Sizzler (Hot Lotto).[12]

In June 2011, Sizzler USA announced that a US management group led by the Sizzler CEO would buy the American portion of the chain of 178 restaurants from Pacific Equity Partners with the remaining 100 restaurants located outside of the United States remaining with Pacific Equity Partners.[13]The headquarters initially remained in Culver City, California, where the chain was founded,[14]but moved to Mission Viejo, California, in 2012.[15]

Sizzler has launched its "ZZ" food truck to expand sales and test market new dishes.[16]

In September 2020, Sizzler USA announced that they had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing impacts of theCOVID-19 pandemic,namely forcing it to temporarily close its restaurants' dining rooms. The company also cited problems paying rent.[17]Most of the company-owned restaurants are located in highly COVID-19 infected areas of California that did not even permit restaurants to partially open dining rooms as recently as September 2020.[18]At the time of the bankruptcy filing, Sizzler had 107 locations in 10 states, with all but one location in Florida in states west of the Rocky Mountains in addition to several locations in Puerto Rico. This number is down from the 134 locations in 2018.[19]

Post-COVID, Sizzler is still in operation and is attempting to rebuild its business with renovations, a new menu, and an advertising campaign.[20]

International locations

Main article:Collins Foods

Following Sizzler USA's separation from Sizzler International in 2011, all locations outside the United States were operated or licensed by Australia-basedCollins Foods.[21][22]In 2023, Collins sold its Sizzler business and intellectual property to Thailand-basedMinor International.[23]

Current locations

Japan

Sizzler inMusashino,Japan(2006)

The current Sizzler franchise-holder in Japan is Royal Holdings Co., Ltd., aFukuoka-based food service company. Royal Holdings opened the first Japanese Sizzler steakhouse in 1991.[24]By August 2021, Royal Holdings had 10 Sizzler restaurants in Japan.[25]

Thailand

The current Sizzler franchise-holder in Thailand isMinor Food Groupvia a subsidiary called SLRT Limited.[26]Minor opened its first Thai Sizzler steakhouse in 1996.[27]By 2001, Minor had 19 Sizzler restaurants throughout Thailand.[28]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company experimented with the use of robotic waiters in the dining room in December 2020 to minimize physical contact between customers and restaurant staff.[29]After the Thai government loosen COVID-19 dine-in restrictions in September 2021, Sizzler Thailand was able to reopen 54 out of a total of 60 restaurants for dine-in.[30]Two months after reopening, the Thai franchise announced expansion plans of trying to open new 3-5 restaurants per year over the next three years. The franchise also announced plans of installing more robot food delivery systems within each restaurant which would minimize human contact between dine-in customers and the restaurant staff which would in turn lessen the transmission of COVID and other diseases.[31]

Former locations

Australia

Sizzler inRockhampton,Australiajust prior to its closure (2020)

The first Australian Sizzler steakhouse was opened in Brisbane in 1985.[32][33]The steakhouses in Australia were reasonably popular during the 1990s.[34]In the 2013 financial year, Collins Foods reported stalling revenue for their Sizzler operations in Australia, blaming the downturn of thecasual diningsector in the country.[35]

By 2015, Collins Foods wrote down the value of Sizzler by AU$37.5 million. In an investors meeting by Collins Foods, CEO Graham Maxwell states: "We no longer consider Sizzler to be a strategic growth prospect in Australia and therefore we will not be investing further capital". Collins Foods began to close a number of Sizzler restaurants in Australia. Meanwhile, Collins Foods' Sizzler operations in Asia continued to thrive, with further expansion planned in China.[36]

Collins Foods closed all of its remaining Sizzler restaurants in Australia in November 2020. Collins Foods said of the three restaurant brands that it operates, Sizzler had been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.[37]

Taiwan

Sizzler was in operation in Taipei for twenty years atTianmuandDa'anfrom 1990 to 2010, and eventually closed due to negotiation with international franchisee Collins Foods resulting in not continuing the contract.[38]

China

According to archived snapshots of the official Sizzler China website, the Thailand-based Minor Food Group had seven Sizzler restaurants in China from May 2009[39]and November 2012.[40]

Indonesia

Sizzler opened a restaurant in Indonesia during the mid-1990s with the first location located atJalan M.H. Thamrinwith other locations notably in Jalan Sabang,Mal Kelapa Gading,andMall Taman Anggrekbut was renamed into American Grill in mid-2000s due to expiring licensing rights.

Singapore

According to archived snapshots of the official Sizzler Singapore website, Collins had three Sizzler restaurants in Singapore in December 2001.[41]In March 2013, the company had two Sizzler restaurants in Singapore.[42]

Controversy

Food safety

In 2000, more than 60 people became ill and one person died in anoutbreakofE. coli O157:H7that originated at a Sizzler restaurant inMilwaukee,Wisconsin.Health officials said that the most likely source of contamination was meat supplied by theExcel Corporationmeat packer.The health officials believed that cross contamination to other food items occurred when Sizzler employees handled the meat near areas where salad bar items were prepared.[43]This was similar to an outbreak inWashingtonandOregonin 1993. In the 1993 case, as in 2000, the tainted meat apparently came from Excel and contaminated salad bar items.[44]This ultimately led to Sizzler closing the chain's remaining Midwest locations, including those in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana.

See also

References

  1. ^"Sizzler Locations".Sizzler.com.RetrievedMarch 19,2022.
  2. ^ab"The Sizzler Story".Sizzler.com. January 27, 1958. Archived fromthe originalon June 18, 2012.RetrievedJune 22,2012.
  3. ^"Sizzler USA Franchise, Inc".Chain Leader.Archived fromthe originalon February 9, 2007.RetrievedJune 22,2012.
  4. ^"Our History".Sizzler.Archived fromthe originalon June 18, 2012.
  5. ^abNorris, Maya (September 1, 2006)."Cast in a New Light".Chain Leader.Archived fromthe originalon February 7, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 1,2007.
  6. ^Wilcox, Gregory J. (June 4, 1996)."Sizzler Closes Outlets".Los Angeles Daily News.RetrievedJune 22,2012– viaTheFreeLibrary.
  7. ^Huesmann, Chris (June 4, 1996)."Sizzler closes 7 East Bay outlets as part of restructuring".Contra Costa Times(Final ed.). p. C01.RetrievedJune 26,2019– viaNewsBank.
  8. ^Brooks, Nancy Rivera (June 3, 1996)."Sizzler files for Chapter 11, To close 130 outlets".Contra Costa Times(Final ed.). pp. A06.RetrievedJune 26,2019– viaNewsBank.
  9. ^Jacobsen, Max (April 15, 1993)."Upscale Buffalo Ranch Sizzzzzles".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedDecember 3,2015.
  10. ^"Sizzler declares bankruptcy".Las Vegas Sun.June 3, 1996.RetrievedDecember 3,2015.
  11. ^Young, David (July 6, 1994)."Beef On The Comeback Trail".Chicago Tribune.
  12. ^"Sizzler said to be considering trademark suit against lottery group".Nation's Restaurant News.Archived fromthe originalon March 30, 2012.RetrievedJune 9,2011.
  13. ^Crowe, Deborah (June 10, 2011)."Sizzler USA Acquired by Management Group".Los Angeles Business Journal.The deal announced late Thursday separates 178 owned or franchised Sizzler locations in the United States from about 100 restaurants overseas that Pacific Equity will continue to control
  14. ^Luna, Nancy (June 9, 2011)."Sizzler sold to team led by CEO".The Orange County Register.RetrievedJune 9,2011.
  15. ^Luna, Nancy (April 10, 2012)."Sizzler moves headquarters to Orange County".The Orange County Register.RetrievedApril 11,2012.
  16. ^Marte, Jonnelle (July 20, 2012)."10 Things Food Trucks Won't Say".SmartMoney.The Wall Street Journal.RetrievedJuly 23,2012.
  17. ^"Sizzler, one of America's first steakhouse chains, files for bankruptcy".CNN.RetrievedSeptember 22,2020.
  18. ^Elliott, Farley (September 8, 2020)."Limited Indoor Dining Can Return to Orange County Today, Says California Gov. Newsom: The state's new coronavirus reopening guidelines mean Orange County can do 25 percent indoor dining, beginning immediately".Eater LA.
  19. ^Chappell, Bill (September 23, 2020)."Pandemic Fizzle: Sizzler Steakhouse Chain Files For Bankruptcy Protection".NPR.RetrievedJuly 10,2021.
  20. ^Romeo, Peter (September 8, 2023)."Sizzler aims for a renaissance by unabashedly embracing its past".Restaurant Business Newsletter.RetrievedApril 7,2024.
  21. ^Hammond, Michelle (July 5, 2011)."Collins Foods' IPO plans highlight food sector strength".StartupSmart.RetrievedNovember 26,2016.
  22. ^"ASX release - Collins Foods Limited 2016 Annual Report"(PDF).Collins Foods. September 1, 2016.RetrievedNovember 26,2016– viaAustralian Securities Exchange.
  23. ^Van, Tong (June 29, 2023)."Minor International acquires Sizzler brand".Inside Retail Asia.RetrievedSeptember 13,2023.
  24. ^Royal Holdings Co., Ltd. Integrated Report 2020(PDF).Royal Holdings Co., Ltd.(Report). 2020. p. 6.
  25. ^"サラダバー＆グリルレストラン “シズラー” thân tử で lặc しくおいしく dã thái を học ぶ tiểu học sinh hướng け thực dục イベント “ベジフルキッズクラブ” をカゴメと hiệp động で sơ khai thôi "[Salad bar & grill restaurant "Sizzler" Held for the first time in collaboration with Kagome, a food education event for elementary school students to learn vegetables in a fun and delicious way with parents and children].Royal Holdings Co., Ltd.(Press release) (in Japanese). August 18, 2021 – via PR Times.
  26. ^"Minor Food Group Companies".Minor Food Group.
  27. ^"Minor Food History 1992".Minor Food Group.
  28. ^"Thailand: Minor Food Group to continue building Sizzler International's Thai presence".Just Food.November 9, 2001.
  29. ^"Sizzler turns to robotic waiters for distancing".Bangkok Post.December 24, 2020.
  30. ^"Eateries set to reopen from Wednesday".Bangkok Post.September 1, 2021.
  31. ^"Sizzler eyes expansion, marketing push".Bangkok Post.November 30, 2021.
  32. ^Shaw, Rebecca (March 24, 2022)."Shame on us, we didn't know what we had until Sizzler was gone".The Sydney Morning Herald.
  33. ^Kirkwood, Katherine (November 11, 2020)."Vale Sizzler: the cheese toast king couldn't keep up with dining trends".The Conversation.
  34. ^Hepworth, Mary-Ellen (May 21, 1992)."Hot family dining".The Canberra Times.p. 18.
  35. ^Pash, Chris (June 25, 2015)."Sizzler is dying in Australia as owner pulls investment".Business Insider Australia.Archived fromthe originalon November 26, 2016.RetrievedNovember 26,2016.
  36. ^"Some Sizzler restaurants to shut after Collins Foods posts loss".Brisbane Times.June 25, 2015.RetrievedNovember 26,2016.
  37. ^Skantzos, Kathy (October 2, 2020)."Sizzler will close the remaining 9 restaurants by November 15".news.com.au.RetrievedOctober 2,2020.
  38. ^Hứa, kỳ văn (November 12, 2010)."Quyền lợi kim đàm bất long" thời thời nhạc "Kinh doanh 20 niên đình nghiệp".Phi phàm tân văn.
  39. ^"Sizzler Locations".Sizzler China.Archived fromthe originalon May 25, 2009.
  40. ^"Sizzler Locations".Sizzler China.Archived fromthe originalon November 23, 2012.
  41. ^"The Sizzler Story".Sizzler Singapore.Archived fromthe originalon December 5, 2001.
  42. ^"The Sizzler Story".Sizzler Singapore.Archived fromthe originalon March 23, 2010.
  43. ^Held, Tom (August 25, 2000)."Beef grinder close to salad prep area, official says".Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.Archived fromthe originalon January 31, 2006.
  44. ^"Cross contamination caused outbreak".About E coli.Marler Clark.RetrievedJune 22,2012.
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