Industry Leaders Create New Relationship Established on Shared Values and Future Growth
ROSEMEAD, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2018) – Panda Restaurant Group, Inc.(“Panda”),the parent company of Panda Express,America’s largest family-owned and operated Asian restaurant concept,announced that it has signed a multi-year agreement with The Coca-Cola Company (“Coca-Cola”) to be the new strategic beverage partner in more than 1,900 Panda Express restaurants, as well as other restaurant concepts owned and operated by Panda, including Panda Inn and Hibachi-San. Rooted in shared values and a commitment to serving others, this partnership brings together two iconic companies with proven track records in their respective categories and supports Panda’s continued strong growth.
Since the first Panda Inn restaurant opened in 1973, Panda has aimed to deliver exceptional dining experiences through a people-first mentality, focusing on its guests, employees, and the community. With a strong commitment to inspire better lives, Panda operates on common principles of its new beverage partner, which holds a mission of inspiring moments of optimism and happiness – intended to make a difference for others. Together, Panda and Coca-Cola will continue to operate by these beliefs and use them to guide the family of restaurantsin its continued evolution as the American Chinese Original.
“As a family-owned company, the relationships we create at Panda Restaurant Group are essential to the exceptional operating culture we have always been known for,” said Dr. Peggy Cherng, co-founder and co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group. “Coca-Cola’s remarkable accomplishments as a brand and internally as a company motivate us to reach for our greatest potential and will bring invaluable new ideas that will please our Guests for years to come. This is a bright start to the 35th anniversary for Panda Express.”
In conjunction with its committed brand tenets, Coca-Cola is the world’s largest beverage company and partner to some of today’s most prominent restaurant chains. Its seasoned foodservice presence, industry expertise and innovation will unlock a fresh perspective for Panda that will push forth its progression within the industry and global expansion. Additionally, the staple American Chinese cuisine at Panda Express and Panda Inn will be complemented by Coca-Cola’s broad portfolio of beverages that guests have adored for more than130 years.
“Panda Restaurant Group is an exciting addition to the Coca-Cola family,” said Kathleen Ciaramello, President of Coca-Cola North America Foodservice and On-Premise. “They are a company committed to excellence and value, focused on bringing positive change to this world. This partnership will not only be a strong collaboration within the food and beverage industry but will also showcase how two brands uniting through collective values can create positive momentum for everyone involved.”
A variety of Coca-Cola products have begun rolling out at Panda Express and Panda Inn restaurants. These include Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero Sugar, Sprite and Fanta Orange fountain options, as well as Dasani Sparkling and Honest Tea bottled beverages. All locations in the 48 contiguous states of the continental United States will be serving Coca-Cola products by Q2 2019.
For more information about Panda Express and its beverage offering, visit www.PandaExpress.com. For media inquiries, please contact Panda@havasformula.com.
About Panda Express
On a mission to inspire better lives, Panda Express, an American Chinese original, is the largest Asian dining concept in the U.S. Founded and family-owned and operated since 1983, it is best known for creating a wide variety of industry-first recipes, including its best seller Original Orange Chicken® and award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp™, which have defined the category of authentic American Chinese cuisine. Each dish at Panda Express, including the better-for-you Wok Smart™ selections, is thoughtfully crafted with quality ingredients inspired by bold Chinese flavors and culinary principles. The restaurant brand has more than 2,200 locations throughout the U.S. and has introduced American Chinese cuisine to more than a dozen international countries. Powered by this global family of associates, Panda Cares, the organization’s philanthropic arm, has contributed more than 140 million dollars and countless volunteer hours in bettering the health and education for over 12 million youths as well as supporting communities in need since 1999. For more information, visit pandaexpress.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitteror Instagram.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company, offering over 500 brands in more than 200 countries and territories. In addition to the company’s Coca-Cola brands, our portfolio includes some of the world’s most valuable beverage brands, such as AdeS soy-based beverages, Ayataka green tea, Dasani waters, Del Valle juices and nectars, Fanta, Georgia coffee, Gold Peak teas and coffees, Honest Tea, innocent smoothies and juices, Minute Maid juices, Powerade sports drinks, Simply juices, smartwater, Sprite, vitaminwater and ZICO coconut water. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We’re also working to reduce our environmental impact by replenishing water and promoting recycling. With our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at Coca-Cola Journey at http://www.coca-colacompany.com/ and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.