When you have a dream, you run with it. That’s what Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax did in 1985. They left their jobs as attorneys to begin to realize their dreams of being in the restaurant business. Today, they have a network of over 235 restaurants located in 29 states and 9 countries.
California Pizza Kitchen Inc. (CPKI) trades on NASDAQ and has its headquarters in Los Angeles, California. As part of the ultra-competitive Restaurant sector, the company operates, licenses or franchises restaurant locations. The majority of the locations are company-owned, while some operate under the other two arrangements. The company also has a licensing arrangement with Kraft Pizza Company, which is a subsidiary of Kraft Foods Inc. Kraft manufactures and distributes a California Pizza Kitchen premium frozen pizza.
The company considers itself a leader in authentic California cuisine, presented in full-service, casual dining atmospheres. A specialty is hearth-baked pizzas including the company’s original BBQ chicken pizza. The company also features pastas, salads, soups, appetizers, and sandwiches available in its restaurants.
In addition, California Pizza Kitchen has concept restaurants called CPK/ASAP. These restaurants are significantly smaller than the main California Pizza Kitchens. These restaurants offer a limited selection of only the most popular menu items. They cater to people on the go who want convenient takeout. CPK/ASAP restaurants also offer curbside service.
In 2003, the partners launched their LA Food Show restaurant concept. This restaurant explores, in a culinary style, all that is Los Angeles. The menu offerings range from Miso Seafood Salad, Chicken Milanese, and Buttermilk-Battered Fried Chicken & Waffle to Blue Crab Cakes and Grilled Mahi-Mahi. This restaurant seeks to explore the diversity in culture and food that is L.A. The restaurant opened in Manhattan Beach, California.
While no longer in the courtroom, Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax are in the boardroom working to provide value to all their shareholders. They are always thinking of ways to bring new dining experiences to their customers. What started out as a labor of love for the restaurant business has spurred a chain, which provides many jobs to America’s labor market.
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