Pentagon’s Nutrition Effort Advances as UFood Grill Moves Closer to Opening First Military Location
February 27 2012 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
As part of the Pentagon’s dramatic new efforts to improve the
diet and fitness of its troops and the First Lady’s “Let’s Move”
campaign, the military’s choice for healthier alternative UFood
Grill restaurants moved a step closer today to opening its first
location on a military base.
UFood Restaurant Group Inc. (OTCBB:UFFC) – a growing
“better-for-you” fast food chain with healthier menu offerings, has
been approved by the Army/Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES) and
is well positioned to support these initiatives. In January 2012,
UFood announced they’d signed an agreement for global military base
development of 26 UFood Grills with MBUF, LLC, a private investment
group of military veterans. Three locations are now underway at the
Aberdeen Proving Ground military base in Maryland, with the first
of these three locations slated to open in March 2012.
First Lady Michelle Obama and Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Health Affairs Dr. Jonathan Woodson announced changes to the menus
of 1,100 dining halls at military bases nationwide earlier this
month. The move, which adjusts the Pentagon’s nutritional standards
for the first time in 20 years, will bring more fruits, vegetables,
whole grains and food choices that are lower in fat to 1.45 million
troops a day at all 1,100 American military dining facilities in
the coming months.
“Simply put, this is America's entire military once again
stepping forward to lead by example," Mrs. Obama said about the
Pentagon’s nutrition movement earlier this month. “A lack of
fitness is not just a health issue, but a national security
issue.”
“As we enter the military with our upcoming opening at Aberdeen
Proving Ground, we will be at the forefront of healthier eating
within the military," said UFood Chairman and CEO George Naddaff.
“MBUF is comprised of a group of experienced veterans who
understand that leading by example in the area of health and
nutrition benefits the military and our country as a whole. We look
forward to opening Aberdeen together as we map out further military
base locations for UFood.”
“The military has had a great response to the UFood Grill
concept,” said Francis L. Shea, managing partner, MBUF, LLC. “As a
veteran myself, I know how important a balanced diet is to military
fitness. By offering a healthy fast casual alternative to fast
food, we believe that UFood will serve both the nutritional and the
lifestyle needs of our military and their families, and their
overall health.”
UFood Grill is committed to offering consumers food that tastes
great, is lower in calories and fat and, wherever possible, serving
meals that are antibiotic and hormone-free, gluten-free as well as
natural, grass-fed beef and cage-free eggs. UFood boasts a
wide-ranging menu that includes lean burgers, rice bowls, salads,
wraps, paninis and smoothies. In addition to airport locations in
Boston, Cleveland and Dallas, construction is underway at two
locations in the Salt Lake City International Airport, which will
open in April.
About UFood Restaurant Group, Inc.
Headquartered in Boston, Mass., UFood Restaurant Group, Inc. is
a franchisor and operator of fast-casual food service restaurants.
UFood Grill offers a healthy lifestyle alternative to consumers in
the fast-casual restaurant space and is positioned to become a
leading player in the “better-for-you” quick-serve restaurant
category. Franchise innovator George Naddaff, who founded Boston
Market and led the franchising of several companies, including
Sylvan Learning Center and VR Business Brokers, leads the company.
Mr. Naddaff also founded two of the first educational day care
centers in the United States, Living and Learning Centers and
Mulberry Child Care Centers, both of which were sold to
KinderCare®. Mr. Naddaff has assembled a veteran management team at
UFood Grill with a successful record in the franchise market. UFood
is currently launching a growth plan to franchise nationwide. To
learn more, visit www.ufoodgrill.com.
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