BOSTON (July 30, 1999)  General Cinema recently named Uno Foods Inc. its 1998-1999 Concession Supplier of the Year. The award is part of a corporate program designed to recognize the movie theater company’s most outstanding suppliers.            

During the presentation, General Cinema’s marketing vice president Page Thompson commented, “Uno Foods represents everything we look for in a supplier. They listen to our issues and come up with workable solutions.” Thompson underscored Uno’s commitment to understanding General Cinema’s business, as evidenced by the assistance provided for the launch of the Premium Cinema concept. Uno applied its expertise to this project and helped General Cinema select the kitchen equipment, develop the menu and even refine the kitchen blueprints.           

The premium quality of the product was also highlighted. General Cinema’s director of purchasing Tammy Diorio said, “Uno Foods has a tremendous focus on quality. I’m not sure if everyone realizes that every pizza they sell to us is made by hand, which is amazing in this day and age.”           

“We’re honored to have been selected by General Cinema for this award, which demonstrates that we are achieving our goal of being a true partner,” said Alan Fox, president of Uno Foods. “We’re very proud of our long-term relationship, and we look forward to continuing to provide distinctive, high-quality pizzas for their consumers.”           

General Cinema Theatres, which recently celebrated its 75th anniversary in the movie exhibition business, is a subsidiary of GC Companies, Inc. (NYSE:GCX).  The company is one of the largest motion picture exhibitors in the U.S., with nearly 1,100 screens and 150 theatres in 23 states.             Uno Foods Inc. supplies Pizzeria Uno brand products, as well as selected private label products, to non-restaurant outlets such as airlines, airports, hotels, movie theaters, schools, sports arenas and supermarkets. Uno currently sells branded, ready-to-heat deep dish pizzas, thin crust pizzas and calzones in more than 900 supermarkets, 375 hotels and 75 movie theaters nationwide, in more than 50 other non-traditional venues, and also to American Airlines. All Uno Foods products are handmade using the same fine ingredients used in Pizzeria Uno restaurants.           

Uno Restaurant Corporation currently has a total of 166 “Pizzeria Uno… Chicago Bar & Grill” casual dining, full-service restaurants. The system includes 99 company-owned and 67 franchise locations in 29 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Seoul, Korea.

For more information, visit www.pizzeriauno.com.

CONTACT:Alan Fox, Uno Restaurant Corp., 617-218-5238

Heather Newcomb, Richards/Gravelle, 214-891-2898