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News + Press
Read the latest news about special promotions and events that are happening at Golden Corral. The Only One For Everyone®.
Press inquiries may be directed to [email protected]
Golden Corral Kicks Off All-you-can-eat Baby Back Ribs & Wings Promotion on National Chicken Wing Day!
July 26, 2024
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America’s #1 Buffet & Grill brings back two of their guests’ favorite summer items along with expanded premium lemonade options.
Rogers Man Runs Across the State of Arkansas to Raise Money for Camp Corral
July 21, 2024
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General Manager Shane Waldrop completes a very ambitious run across the state of Arkansas raising over $18,000 for Camp Corral, a cause he is deeply committed to.
Bedford Golden Corral Will Honor Veterans on July 4th
July 2, 2024
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Since 1988, the Bedford, MD Golden Corral has honored veterans on July 4th with a complimentary breakfast. This year will be no different. Veterans can enjoy a free breakfast buffet following a flag-raising ceremony, a 21-gun salute, and more.
New Scooter’s Coffee Deal Brings Drive-thru Growth, Plus More Multi-unit News
June 25, 2024
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Exciting news for Golden Corral fans in Florida! We’re thrilled to announce our expansion with a two-unit agreement in Clearwater-Largo and St. Petersburg.
Golden Corral is Coming to Memphis. Here’s What We Know About the Buffet Chains Plans.
June 25, 2024
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Golden Corral is looking to bring either one or two restaurants to the area in the coming years.
Trying Out Golden Corral’s Summer Grill Lineup
June 19, 2024
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For a limited time, Golden Corral says leaving the grill up to them with a new Summer Grill menu.
Golden Corral Brings Endless Buffet to Covina, California
June 14, 2024
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Enthusiastic all-you-can-eat-buffet fans in Covina are in for a treat with the grand opening of a brand new Golden Corral restaurant.
Golden corral recognized as private company boards of the year 2024 recipient
June 4, 2024
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The Board of Directors for the popular buffet-style restaurant Golden Corral has been honored with a 2024 Private Company Boards of the Year Award for its excellence in business governance.
Golden corral unveils exciting summer grill promotion: all of the flavor, with none of the work, starting may 20
May 17, 2024
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Golden Corral announces its Summer Grill promotion, a celebration of the vibrant flavors and laid-back vibes of summer.
Golden corral unveils exciting summer grill promotion
May 16, 2024
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As the summer sun approaches, Golden Corral is thrilled to announce its latest culinary extravaganza, the Summer Grill promotion, set to ignite taste buds across the nation.
golden corral launches 12th Camp corral fundraising campaign
April 15, 2024
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America’s #1 buffet is aiming to raise $1 million to help send military kids to camp.
golden corral launches fundraising campaign for camp corral
April 10, 2024
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For more than a decade, Golden Corral has worked to change the lives of the children of our nation’s military heroes by raising funds to send them to Camp Corral. In keeping with that tradition, the brand kicked off its 12th year of this collaboration, with a goal of raising $1 million in 2024.
fearless fave five: dining destinations for mother’s day in texas
March 13, 2024
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KYYW Online: Top Five places to take your mother and my children’s mother on Mother’s Day.
Are all you can eat restaurants like golden corral making a comeback?
March 11, 2024
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The buffet is back. If you thought the pandemic meant the death knell of all-you-can-eat restaurants, think again.
all-you-can-eat butterfly shrimp makes a triumphant return, joined by chicken tender trio
February 20, 2024
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Fan-favorite Butterfly Shrimp is back along with three Chicken Tender flavors that will leave your mouth watering and wanting more!
AN OUTPOST OF A POPULAR BUFFET CHAIN HAS RACKED UP TENS OF MILLIONS OF VIEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. HERE’S HOW IT KEEPS GOING VIRAL.
February 13, 2024
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New York City’s first Golden Corral has caught our attention with their viral TikTok and Instagram posts and continues keep their social media presence strong.
HOMEWARD KITCHEN OPENS FIRST LOCATION IN SOUTHERN PINES UNDER LEADERSHIP OF NEW VP OF OPERATIONS, JASON KORNOSKY
December 14, 2023
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Kornosky has played a major part in the brand’s grand opening and will continue to lead efforts related to Homeward Kitchen’s impending expansion, while developing and implementing operational standards.
GOLDEN CORRAL LIKES WHAT IT’S LEARNING FROM ITS NEW HOMEWARD KITCHEN CONCEPT
December 14, 2023
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Three years in the making, the fast casual upstart is on track
to surpass proforma projections.
GOLDEN CORRAL FRANCHISE OPERATOR LOOKS AT ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY
December 13, 2023
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Franchisee Annette Payne shares her journey through the restaurant industry and how she and her partner, Jace Stickdorn, teamed up to become partners and Golden Corral franchisees.
GOLDEN CORRAL’S FAST-CASUAL RESTAURANT HOMEWARD KITCHEN
MAKES ITS DEBUT
December 13, 2023
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Homeward Kitchen is open for business! Earlier this week, the new fast-casual concept from Golden Corral made its debut in Southern Pines, North Carolina.
MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT AT WINCHESTER GOLDEN CORRAL RAISES FUNDS FOR DAV
November 22, 2023
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The Winchester Golden Corral hosted its annual Military Appreciation Dinner in conjunction with Chapter 12 of Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
GOLDEN CORRAL’S SOARING SUCCESS IN 2023 LANDS THE BRAND #63 ON FRANCHISE TIMES TOP 400+ LIST
November 10, 2023
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Golden Corral, America’s largest buffet chain builds momentum as demand for value-based dining grows.
GOLDEN CORRAL CONTINUES TO HONOR U.S. ARMED FORCES WITH 22ND ANNUAL MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT
November 8, 2023
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For more than 20 years Golden Corral celebrates active-duty military, retirees, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans with free meals and donation drive. Due to the efforts of restaurant teams across the country and the generosity of loyal guests, the brand has exceeded $33 million to support military causes.
GOLDEN CORRAL KICKS OFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH ALL THE FIXINGS, NONE OF THE STRESSING
October 26, 2023
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Golden Corral is serving up Holiday Meal solutions to fit everyone this holiday season.
GOLDEN CORRAL SIGNS DEAL TO GROW IN SOUTHWESTERN OHIO
October 23, 2023
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Golden Corral announced Monday that it will continue to expand its presence in Southwestern Ohio (Northgate and Middletown) with existing franchise owners Jace Stickdorn and Annette Payne.
GOLDEN CORRAL’S FAST CASUAL SPINOFF TO OPEN IN DECEMBER
October 20, 2023
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Homeward Kitchen, which will debut in North Carolina, will help fuel company’s ongoing expansion plan and help Golden Corral reach new demographics.
GOLDEN CORRAL’S FAST CASUAL, HOMEWARD KITCHEN,
TO OPEN IN DECEMBER
October 19, 2023
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Homeward Kitchen will feature dine-in, take-out and drive-thru options for ordering with “slow cooked, served fast” family-favorites and convenient ordering options are perfect for families navigating today’s busy world.
WHY FRANCHING? LET’S ASK 11 RESTAURANT LEADERS
September 13, 2023
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Lance Trenary shares his advice for anyone in the restaurant franchising space.
A BUFFET EXPERIENCE BUILT TO LAST
August 16, 2023
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With more than 50 years in the restaurant industry, Golden Corral is driving exceptional growth in guest traffic, new development opportunities, and providing unlimited opportunities for entrepreneurs looking for a proven, family-oriented restaurant model.
CNBC: THE EXCHANGE (LANCE TRENARY INTERVIEW)
July 28, 2023
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Golden Corral CEO on the debut of a fast-casual spinoff “Homeward Kitchen”
22 OPTIONS FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER TO GO IN 2023
July 24, 2023
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You’ll save time and maybe even money by going the carryout route.
COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION
July 17, 2023
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Golden Corral plans for fast-casual comfort food concept.
GOLDEN CORRAL APPOINTS 7-ELEVEN VET AS CIO
July 10, 2023
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Gillis brings over 20 years of experience in the restaurant, hospitality, and consumer goods industries to her new position at Golden Corral.
NEW YORK TIMES: THE BUFFET IS BACK, STRETCHING DOLLARS AND SLINGING CRAB LEGS
June 26, 2023
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All-you-can-eat spreads faltered amid pandemic fears, but inflation and a hunger for an experience are giving them new life and variety.
TOP 500 CHAINS
June 22, 2023
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Technomic’s Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report ranks the highest-grossing brands in the U.S. Explore the data to see how the biggest chains fared in 2022.
NORTH CAROLINA BEST EMPLOYERS
June 1, 2023
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This year’s Best Employers were ranked by market research company DataJoe
in four categories. DataJoe created and implemented a survey that polled employers
and their employees. The survey covered essential workplace topics, including
organizational health, leadership, engagement, work-life balance, pay, training,
benefits, and corporate social responsibility.
HOMEWARD KITCHEN – RESTAURANT TRANSITIONS
June 1, 2023
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Raleigh, N.C. buffet chain Golden Corral is planning to introduce a new fast-casual restaurant brand, to be called Homeward Kitchen.
THE RESTAURANT REPORT PODCAST (NRA SERIES)
May 26, 2023
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Golden Corral, the popular buffet chain, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The company has come a long way since it opened its first location in Fayetteville, NC, in 1973. In the podcast interview, CEO Lance Trenary talked about the company’s history, success, and future plans.
11 BEST EARLY BIRD RESTAURANT SPECIALS FOR SENIORS
May 22, 2023
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Golden Corral has one of the best early bird deals for seniors, entitling them to great restaurant specials, from discounts on meals to specially priced menus.
GOLDEN CORRAL UNVEILS UNBEATABLE VALUE THIS SUMMER
May 22, 2023
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Golden Corral is heating things up this summer by introducing irresistible, mouthwatering items on the buffet that are wallet-friendly for guests to feast on all summer long.
HOW GOLDEN CORRAL SURVIVED WHEN OTHER BUFFET CHAINS FAILED
May 17, 2023
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With rising inflation in 2022 and 2023, Golden Corral recognizes the importance of pricing, especially in this economy.
GOLDEN CORRAL TO DEBUT FAST-CASUAL SPINOFF
May 16, 2023
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Golden Corral is entering the fast-casual segment with Homeward Kitchen this upcoming fall.
GOLDEN CORRAL HAS THE BEST “HOME AND FAMILY” ATMOSPHERE IN THE BUFFET BUSINESS: LANCE TRENARY
May 11, 2023
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Golden Corral CEO Lance Trenary joined ‘Cavuto: Coast to Coast’ to discuss the recent Placer.ai report indicating that buffet restaurants are up 125% from 2021.
AS FOOD PRICES CLIMB, AMERICANS ARE FLOCKING TO THIS RESTAURANT
May 5, 2023
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Three years later, due to value, the buffet concept continues to grow steadily.
THE BUFFET IS BACK, THANK YOU INFLATION
May 5, 2023
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The Covid-19 pandemic crushed all-you-can-eat buffets, but now buffets are making a comeback.
GOLDEN CORRAL TO KICKOFF CAMP CORRAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
April 21, 2023
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America’s #1 buffet to raise $900,000 to help send military kids to camp.
GOLDEN CORRAL KICKS OFF CAMP CORRAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
April 21, 2023
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Golden Corral is proud to begin its 11th year of transforming the lives of the children of our nation’s military heroes by sending them to Camp Corral.
GOLDEN CORRAL TO KICKOFF CAMP CORRAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
April 20, 2023
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America’s #1 buffet to raise $900,000 to help send military kids to camp Golden Corral is proud to begin its 11th year of transforming the lives of the children of our nation’s military heroes by sending them to Camp Corral.
YELP ANNOUNCES THE 50 MOST LOVED BRANDS IN THE U.S
April 13, 2023
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Yelp revealed its first-ever list of the 50 most loved restaurants, food, and retail brands. According to the Yelp community, these brands demonstrate the qualities Yelpers value, like affordability, great customer service, and consistent, high-quality products.
20 BEST EASTER DINNERS YOU CAN GET DELIVERED OR TO GO FROM RESTAURANTS
April 4, 2023
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Treat yourself to an entire glazed ham plus delectable side dishes including mashed potatoes and yeast rolls when you pick up Golden Corral’s Easter Buffet To-Go.
THESE CHAIN RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN ON EASTER
April 4, 2023
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Hop on over to one of these restaurants for your Easter dinner.
REDEFINING SUCCESS: WOMEN IN RESTAURANT LEADERSHIP ON BREAKING BARRIERS
March 8, 2023
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It is not necessarily specific to our industry, but I have learned that it is incredibly important to find a company whose beliefs and values line up with your own. It is much easier to thrive in an environment where you can be your true self.
WITH 2 NEW CONCEPTS COMING, 50-YEAR-OLD GOLDEN CORRAL REFUSES TO ACT ITS AGE
February 15, 2023
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The buffet operation is commemorating its golden anniversary with initiatives aimed at keeping it around for the next 50 years. That includes the launch of fast-casual and steakhouse concepts.
GOLDEN CORRAL TO COMMEMORATE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY IN 2023
December 30, 2022
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America’s No. 1 buffet and grill to celebrate 50 years on January 3 with more great food and sweepstakes.
GOLDEN CORRAL ANNOUNCES SERIES OF PROMOTIONS FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2023
December 29, 2022
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Golden Corral has so much to celebrate in 2023! America’s No. 1 buffet and grill will officially mark its golden anniversary with 50 years in the restaurant industry on Tuesday, January 3.
GOLDEN CORRAL BUFFET AND GRILL FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY
December 29, 2022
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Golden Corral provides unlimited opportunities for entrepreneurs who are looking for a proven, family-oriented restaurant model.
GOLDEN CORRAL FEAST TO GO MENU: SELECTIONS, PRICES, AND OTHER DETAILS EXPLORED
December 22, 2022
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Though most Golden Corral restaurants stay open for Christmas, customers are advised to enquire beforehand if they are planning to pick up their meals on December 25.
THE GOLDEN CORRAL HOLIDAY BEEF ROAST FEAST IS NEW FOR 2022
December 20, 2022
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The Golden Corral Holiday Beef Roast Feast is being added to the brand’s holiday meal menu to offer consumers an ultra-easy way to enjoy a roast dinner with family and friends this season.
GOLDEN CORRAL CELEBRATES 22-YEAR TRADITION, RAISES OVER $900,000 FOR DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS
December 19, 2022
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For the past 22 years, Golden Corral has supported United States military members who serve our country through its annual Military Appreciation Night.
21 FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS OPEN ON THANKSGIVING DAY 2022
November 23, 2022
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All restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. In addition to their standard fare, they’re offering a Thanksgiving Day buffet, complete with carved roasted turkey, glazed ham, beef roast and a variety of traditional sides.
MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT
November 23, 2022
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Hu Odom from Golden Corral joined us to discuss why they give back to our local military veterans and he also said, it’s not too late to get great holiday food before Thanksgiving.
THE DISH: WE’RE STILL TALKING TURKEY IN ADVANCE OF HOLIDAY
November 18, 2022
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Feast at the holiday buffet serving freshly carved cuts of roasted turkey, glazed ham and the new holiday beef roast along with traditional sides such as mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing and more.
FOX54 MORNINGS: GOLDEN CORRAL HONORING VETS
November 11, 2022
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FOX54 Mornings: Golden Corral Honoring Vets
ALL THE CHAIN RESTAURANTS WHERE MILITARY MEMBERS CAN GET FREE FOOD ON VETERANS DAY
November 10, 2022
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After scoring deals on Nov. 11, veterans can enjoy a free meal on November 14 during the chain’s military appreciation night from 5 p.m. until close.
GOLDEN CORRAL SALUTES VETERANS WITH FREE MEAL
November 3, 2022
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In honor of Veterans Day, Golden Corral will offer veterans and service members a complimentary meal on Monday, November 14.
RING IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH GOLDEN CORRAL
October 25, 2022
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Golden Corral knows that family and food are key parts of the holiday season, so the nation’s leading buffet brand is making plans for a festive holiday in its restaurants and at home.
GOLDEN CORRAL SALUTES OUR NATION’S HEROES WITH 22ND ANNUAL MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT
October 25, 2022
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America’s #1 buffet and grill to raise funds and offer free dinner for veterans and active-duty personnel for Veterans Day
GOLDEN CORRAL KICKS OFF HOLIDAY SPECIALS
October 24, 2022
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Golden Corral knows family and food are key parts of the holiday season, so the nation’s leading buffet brand is making plans for a festive holiday in its restaurants and at home.
GOLDEN CORRAL SERVES UP FRANCHISE INCENTIVE TO SPUR GROWTH
October 17, 2022
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Golden Corral stands uniquely ready to thrive with an inflation-busting franchise development incentive serving up loads of opportunities for owners of the beloved legacy brand.
GOLDEN CORRAL RECEIVES HONOR AT DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS NATIONAL CONVENTION
August 29, 2022
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Golden Corral was named to the National Adjutant’s Circle at DAV National Convention on August 4 for its 20-year partnership.
EXECUTIVE VOICE: HIS BILLION-DOLLAR RALEIGH CHAIN WEATHERED THE PANDEMIC WITH ROOM TO GROW
August 11, 2022
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Raleigh’s Golden Corral took a hard hit during the pandemic, but the buffet chain is back on its feet, and CEO Lance Trenary is ready for growth.
GOLDEN CORRAL BRANCHES OUT WITH NEW STEAKHOUSE, FAST-CASUAL CONCEPTS
August 3, 2022
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After taking a financial beating during the pandemic, Raleigh-based Golden Corral is looking to diversify its offerings.
NEW AUTOMATION PROVIDES RESTAURANTS EASY AND EFFICIENT GROUP RESERVATIONS MANAGEMENT
August 1, 2022
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Golden Corral, America’s #1 buffet, is the first Revolution Ordering partner to launch the new group reservation system.
GOLDEN CORRAL TO ENHANCE GUEST EXPERIENCES THROUGH ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH SMG
June 27, 2022
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Golden Corral has chosen to partner with SMG to enhance the guest experience through its online reputation management platform.
4 NEARLY FORGOTTEN RESTAURANT CHAINS MAKING A COMEBACK
June 19, 2022
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The comeback was largely due to Golden Corral’s focus on value, despite inflationary pressures.
GOLDEN CORRAL’S RENAISSANCE HAS BEEN ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS
June 15, 2022
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The buffet is witnessing double-digit sales increases, renewed franchise growth, and recognition from its employers as a workplace of choice.
GOLDEN CORRAL IS OUT TO PROVE THAT COVID DIDN’T KILL BUFFETS
June 9, 2022
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The nation’s largest buffet chain evolved its business to survive the pandemic but isn’t about to give up on its core service model.
HOW RESTAURANTS ARE COMBATTING MULTIPLE CHALLENGES
May 25, 2022
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Lance Trenary, CEO of Golden Corral, joins the podcast to talk about labor, supply chain and Congress’s failure to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
GOLDEN CORRAL CONTINUES STRATEGIC FRANCHISE GROWTH
May 24, 2022
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Golden Corral, the nation’s largest all-you-can-eat buffet chain, announced today a strategic franchising initiative that will accelerate its expansion plans, both nationally and internationally.
IFMA’s 2022 GOLD PLATE AWARD PRESENTED TO LANCE TRENARY
May 22, 2022
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The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) presented the Gold Plate Award, the foodservice industry’s top honor, to Lance Trenary of Golden Corral.
BUFFETS COULD BE POISED TO RETURN AS CUSTOMERS SEEK COST-EFFECTIVE FOOD OPTIONS
May 22, 2022
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There seems to be a steady return of customers seeking “endless buffets” and “all-you-can-eat” options, even after the two-year pandemic scare.
TWO YEARS INTO THE PANDEMIC, “ENDLESS BUFFETS” — AND HUNGRY CUSTOMERS — HAVE RETURNED
May 16, 2022
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More than two years after the start of the pandemic, buffets have returned.
NEW NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION CHAIR LANCE TRENARY SEES BUCKETS OF ISSUES TO TAKE ON
March 4, 2022
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The 37-year industry veteran intends to address the labor shortage and other chronic issues as he contends with immediate emergencies. And that’s while fulfilling his day job as Golden Corral CEO.
GOLDEN CORRAL’S LANCE TRENARY TAPPED AS THIS YEAR’S NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN
February 16, 2022
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Golden Corral CEO Lance Trenary has been elected as this year’s chairman of the National Restaurant Association, a rotating position that enables the holder to greatly influence the group’s focus in the coming year.
THE MOST INFLUENTIAL RESTAURANT CEOS IN THE COUNTRY, ACCORDING TO NATION’S RESTAURANT NEWSREADERS
February 11, 2022
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Every year, Nation’s Restaurant News editors select influential industry insiders for The Power List. This year, our list focused on people who are evolving the restaurant industry through fresh ideas and game-changing approaches to leadership, workforce, equity and inclusion, investment, restaurant technology, supply chain, growth models, and more.
AMERICA’S BEST LARGE EMPLOYERS
February 10, 2022
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Two years into a pandemic that’s forever transformed the workplace, what makes a good employer?
GOLDEN CORRAL NAMES SKIP HANKE CMO
December 17, 2021
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Golden Corral recently named Skip Hanke the chain’s new Chief Marketing Officer. The former Applebee’s executive will take over marketing for the North Carolina-based buffet chain.
Golden Corral CEO: “Incredibly difficult” to staff restaurants
October 21, 2021
WATCH VIDEO
CEO Lance Trenary speaks on changes made amid the pandemic and how Golden Corral survived.
Golden Corral Reopens Dine-In Eating at Del City Location
August 9, 2021
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The Del City, Oklahoma community can once again enjoy Golden Corral’s home-style favorites after the buffet and grill reopened its dine-in seating on Monday, August 2!
BUFFETS ARE BACK – BUT THE CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN IS OFF-LIMITS
June 28, 2021
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The pandemic-era prohibition on pigging out at the buffet is officially over.
Americans are once again lining up for fried chicken, sushi rolls and carrot cake––preferably on the same plate.
GOLDEN CORRAL IN LAKE CHARLES REOPENS
May 10, 2021
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Golden Corral in Lake Charles has reopened.
The Lake Charles location of the buffet was only open a short while before it closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was then damaged in Hurricane Laura.
GOLDEN CORRAL CELEBRATES GRAND REOPENING IN LAKE CHARLES
May 10, 2021
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In addition to the beaches, casino resorts, creole nature and festivals, Louisiana’s Playground can once again enjoy Golden Corral’s unmatched variety with the buffet & grill’s recent reopening on May 10!
Located at 211 West Prien Lake Road, the 10,000-square-foot restaurant previously closed temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic and damages from Hurricane Laura. Now, over a year after first closing, and after substantial renovations, the restaurant is back and better than ever!
ARE BUFFETS A THING OF THE PAST? REIMAGINING ‘ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT’ IN A POST-COVID WORLD
April 23, 2021
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As restaurants have pivoted to stay open during the pandemic, buffets are one of those things that are difficult to imagining continuing in a post-COVID world. Shared spoons, salad bar sneeze guards and standing in line next to other hungry customers in order to pile your plate high seems in direct opposition to the safety measures we’ve all adopted surrounding food service.
GOLDEN CORRAL’S CEO REVEALS HOW THE CHAIN IMPLEMENTED A DRIVE-THRU-LESS DRIVE-THRU
April 16, 2021
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Golden Corral made an unorthodox move for a buffet chain and added drive-thrus at some locations during the pandemic, but the drive-thrus are very different from the industry standard, CEO Lance Trenary told Insider.
GOLDEN CORRAL’S LARGEST FRANCHISEE FINDS BUFFETS GETTING A SECOND LIFE
April 16, 2021
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Eric Holm, whose company has emerged from bankruptcy, said his surviving units are approaching where they were in 2019.
5 THINGS TO ENVY ABOUT GOLDEN CORRAL
April 15, 2021
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A buffet extending through several time zones isn’t the only distinguishing feature of the brand. Here are some attributes that may be unfamiliar even to hardcore fans.
GOLDEN CORRAL IS EXPANDING ON ITS BUFFET MODEL WITH DRIVE-THRUS, ALCOHOL AND CURBSIDE PICKUP
April 14, 2021
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Buffet chain Golden Corral is reworking its core business model by adding drive-thrus and alcohol, CEO Lance Trenary told Insider.
Off-premises orders made up less than 3% of all business before the coronavirus pandemic, and the team started thinking about what changes could make business more sustainable when it eventually reopened. To do that, Golden Corral looked at restaurants with multiple access points — curbside, drive-thru, and delivery were all alternative ways customers could buy food without dining inside.
GOLDEN CORRAL MAKES ITS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SANTA MARIA DEBUT
April 13, 2021
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The Santa Maria community can now enjoy Golden Corral’s endless dining choices because the buffet and grill made its debut today!
Located at 2104 S. Bradley Road, the 11,000-square-foot restaurant features Golden Corral’s new modern design with a stone fireplace, contemporary décor, comfortable and varied seating options, as well as an all-new buffet area with an enhanced carvery and tiled walls that look much like a residential kitchen.
GOLDEN CORRAL OPENS IN SANTA MARIA
April 13, 2021
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“We are thrilled to introduce Golden Corral’s home-style favorites to the Santa Maria community,” says local franchisee Gilbert Tello. “We brought 125 new jobs to the area and can’t wait for our exceptional team to serve Golden Corral’s unmatched variety to the wonderful people of Santa Maria. I have no doubt that this community will be very impressed with our restaurant now that we’ve officially opened our doors!”
GOLDEN CORRAL MAKES ITS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SANTA MARIA DEBUT
April 12, 2021
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America’s #1 buffet and grill set to open its doors to the public today.
GOLDEN CORRAL OPENS UP FOR BUSINESS IN SANTA MARIA’S CROSSROADS SHOPPING CENTER
April 12, 2021
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Starting on Monday Santa Marians can enjoy the seemingly endless options at Golden Corral’s new location at 2104 S. Bradley Road in the Crossroads shopping center. The 11,000-square-foot restaurant will feature Golden Corral’s new modern design with a stone fireplace, contemporary décor, comfortable and varied seating options, as well as an all-new buffet area with an enhanced carvery and tiled walls that look much like a residential kitchen.
GOLDEN CORRAL OPENS NEW LOCATION IN SANTA MARIA
April 12, 2021
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The Golden Corral opened its “endless buffet” and grill in Santa Maria on Monday.
The restaurant is located at 2104 South Bradley Road.
NEW ALL-YOU-CAN EAT BUFFET RESTAURANT OPENS IN SANTA MARIA
April 12, 2021
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An all-you-can eat buffet restaurant is now open in Santa Maria.
The Golden Corral is located at 2103 S. Bradley Road in the former R&R Furniture Outlet spot in the Crossroads at Santa Maria.
The grill-buffet restaurant chain, which serves more than 100 items, including steak, seafood, mac and cheese, salads and more, says the new location brought 125 jobs to the area.
GOLDEN CORRAL IS BUILDING FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS
March 31, 2021
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Golden Corral lives by a 100-year plan.
For CEO Lance Trenary, that means the company will always make decisions consistent with it being in business for at least a century. There’s no short-term reactions, and no strategy will move forward at the expense of profitability.
EASTER CELEBRATIONS JUST GOT EASIER WITH GOLDEN CORRAL’S TO-GO MEALS
March 31, 2021
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America’s #1 buffet and grill launches special Easter meals to enjoy at home, available for pre-order now through April 4.
Golden Corral is inviting families across the nation to create special moments with one another over a home-style, quality holiday dinner this Easter Sunday.
51 RESTAURANTS WITH EASTER SPECIALS AND DEALS
March 31, 2021
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Easter is coming up on April 4, and for many that means enjoying a traditional Easter dinner or brunch with the family. But if you’ve been cooking at home more often than usual (for some, that might mean three meals a day), you might not want to go to great lengths to prepare a homemade Easter meal.
HOW GOLDEN CORRAL IS ADAPTING TO NEW REALITIES
March 26, 2021
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The pandemic accelerated the buffet chain’s evolution into other service formats. Here are some of the avenues it’s pursuing.
GOLDEN CORRAL CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING IN EFFINGHAM
March 17, 2021
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Golden Corral started serving its endless buffet at 1102 Avenue of Mid-America in Effingham on Monday, March 15.
The new restaurant features the brand’s new modern design with a stone fireplace, contemporary décor, comfortable and varied seating options, as well as an all-new buffet area with an enhanced carvery and tiled walls that look much like a residential kitchen.
GOLDEN CORRAL CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF FIRST EFFINGHAM RESTAURANT
March 17, 2021
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America’s #1 buffet and grill made its debut on March 15!
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to give the Effingham community a Golden Corral to call their own,” said Franchisee Chris Hruby. “The new restaurant is in a great location where I-57 and I-70 meet, so we’re looking forward to becoming the go-to dining destination for locals and those passing through. We’ve hired an exceptional team to join us in bringing Golden Corral’s delicious, home-style favorites to Effingham, and now we can’t wait to safely serve everyone in the area!”
GOLDEN CORRAL CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF FIRST EFFINGHAM RESTAURANT
March 17, 2021
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The 10,500-square-foot restaurant opened with a modified service model to comply with federal, state and local guidelines. Enhanced sanitization measures and social distancing procedures are in place, including table spacing, floor markers, and plate, utensils, and drink delivery. In addition, single use gloves will be positioned at every entrance to the buffet for “no-touch” self-service so that guests do not directly handle serving utensils when selecting endless helpings of their favorite foods off the buffet. Masks and gloves are worn by all team members, and guests will be required to wear masks while away from their table.
CORONAVIRUS A YEAR LATER: 12 RESTAURANT LEADERS LOOK BACK
March 12, 2021
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FSR caught up with 11 restaurant operators to ask them a simple question with a not-so-easy answer-one year later, if you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?
GOLDEN CORRAL TESTS DRIVE-THRUS, A LA CARTE MENU, FROZEN MARGARITAS
February 24, 2021
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Golden Corral is venturing far beyond buffets in its quest to sustain business through the pandemic and beyond, with tests already underway of such draws as drive-thrus, frozen margaritas, a la carte menus, a virtual concept specializing in comfort foods, and even a more sanitary riff on the brand’s signature chocolate fountain.
HOW GOLDEN CORRAL SURVIVED THE PANDEMIC
February 24, 2021
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How did Golden Corral, the country’s biggest buffet chain, survive a pandemic in which it couldn’t operate much if not all of its buffets?
Lance Trenary, the chain’s CEO, answers that question on this week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast “A Deeper Dive.”
Golden Corral Implementing Additional Measures to Help Prevent Spread of Coronavirus
Company Sent Guidelines to Restaurants in January; Internal Task Force Monitoring Situation
March 12, 2020
Raleigh, N.C. – Golden Corral Corporation today said that it began implementing additional measures at its restaurants in January to address coronavirus and is following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control as a company task force continues to monitor and assess the situation. It is important to remember that this illness cannot be contracted through consuming food.
In addition to its longstanding policy of not allowing employees to work if they show or report any signs of illness, the company is also:
- Placing co-workers at company-owned restaurants on paid leave for scheduled hours during a 14 day quarantine resulting from a confirmed diagnosis;
- Sanitizing the surfaces of all key guest touch-points every 30 minutes;
- Changing all serving utensils every 30 minutes;
- Diligently following current cleaning procedures using proven and effective sanitizing products;
- Reinforcing stringent handwashing practices requiring employees to wash their hands every 20 minutes or between tasks; and,
- Making sure all hand sanitizer stations are stocked and operating properly, as well as adding additional sanitizing stations throughout the restaurant.
“The health, safety and well-being of our co-workers, guests and communities are always our top priority and we are deeply committed to delivering on that promise,” said Golden Corral CEO Lance Trenary. “Our brand specializes in serving our local communities across the country. We implemented additional preventive measures to address coronavirus concerns and to maintain a clean and safe environment for our co-workers and our guests.”
Trenary said the company is in constant communication with managers at all of its restaurants across the country and has set up an internal website to provide them with updated information and other guidelines as the situation evolves.
“Since this is a respiratory illness, the good news for all restaurants is that coronavirus cannot be contracted through ingesting food,” said Pamela Ritz, MS Food Safety, who has advised Golden Corral on its preparations for coronavirus. “Consumers can also do a great deal to help protect themselves and prevent the spread of the disease when dining out including washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available; covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in the trash; or cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands; and, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands,” added Ritz.
Golden Corral will continue to closely monitor this dynamic situation and is fully prepared to adapt and modify should circumstances dictate on a restaurant by restaurant basis. “We appreciate the trust and support of our loyal guests and we look forward to continuing to serve you in our restaurants across the country,” added Lance Trenary.
Richmond’s Golden Corral Opens with New Look
February 27, 2020
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Richmond’s Golden Corral recently underwent a comprehensive remodel and is set to reopen with an all-new look and feel on Thursday, February 27.
Located at 3625 East Main St., the restaurant now features Golden Corral’s new prototype design package – the GATEWAY MODEL. Highlights of the remodel project include an updated exterior coupled with a major interior redesign featuring a stacked stone fireplace, contemporary décor, more comfortable and varied seating options, new carpeting, new lighting and a new buffet layout.
Golden Corral Celebrates Grand Opening of First Janesville Restaurant
February 07, 2020
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Golden Corral will celebrate its grand opening with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Janesville Chamber of Commerce at 10:30 a.m. This opening marks the first Golden Corral in Janesville, seventh in Wisconsin and 483rd systemwide.
Bring it on: New Golden Corral can match your biggest appetite
February 06, 2020
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Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Remember that as you head up to the buffet station at the new Golden Corral at 211 W. Prien Lake Road.
We’re talking about eating mega-quantities of the restaurant’s delicious food. Knowing you can pay one price and eat as much as you want can affect perfectly rational people in strange ways. It’s easy to overindulge. I know because I did exactly that on a recent visit.
Golden Corral Ranked a Top Franchise in Entrepreneur’s Highly Competitive Annual Franchise 500
February 06, 2020
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Golden Corral, the nation’s largest grill-buffet chain, is proud to announce the company recently ranked in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500, one of the world’s most admired business rankings. They ranked number 90 in the publication’s 41st annual review and finished 1st in the Miscellaneous Full-Service Category.
Boondocks wins N.C.’s 2020 Restaurant Neighbor Award
February 06, 2020
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Boondocks Brewing Tap Room and Restaurant has been selected to represent North Carolina at the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s Restaurant Industry Awards, with the brewers being named the state’s 2020 Restaurant Neighbor Award winner.
Golden Corral Appeals to All Appetites and Personalities in Vibrant New Campaign
February 06, 2020
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Golden Corral has been “The Only One for Everyone” for nearly 50 years, and has evolved into a signature, endless buffet that features a diverse array of delicious food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The brand’s latest television spot, which plays on the classic adage “You Are What You Eat,” builds a colorful depiction of exactly what Golden Corral does as The Only One For Everyone – attracts appetites of all styles and preferences. The campaign will hit the airwaves nationwide on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
Golden Corral expects to open Feb. 10 in Moreno Valley
February 06, 2020
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Golden Corral Buffet & Grill in Moreno Valley is prepared for crowds when it opens to the public at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 10.
“We’re expecting 2,000 guests a day for the foreseeable future,” said general manager Brian Smith.
The buffet is in Canyon Springs Plaza, north of the 60 Freeway at Day Street.
IN CREATIVE SHIFT, GOLDEN CORRAL SUGGESTS THAT PEOPLE ‘ARE WHAT THEY EAT’
February 05, 2020
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The Raleigh, North Carolina-based buffet chain’s comical and colorful 15-second ads, featuring actors who resemble their favorite foods, debuted today as the latest iteration in its “The Only One For Everyone” campaign—which positions Golden Corral as the only place where people with different tastes can share a table for memorable moments. Still, the new quirky creative from Portland, Maine’s The Via Agency breathes new life into the campaign—earlier spots featured standard restaurant gatherings viewers have grown accustomed to seeing in fast-casual dining advertising. The new spots were directed by Claire Cottrell, a Los Angeles-based director and photographer.
Golden Corral Signs 42,500 SF Office Lease for Headquarters in Raleigh
February 03, 2020
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Golden Corral has signed a lease agreement with landlord Keystone Corp. to occupy 42,500 square feet of the first two floors of Palisades III, an under-construction office building in Raleigh.
National Restaurant Association and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Name 2020 Boards
January 30, 2020
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The National Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation today announced their 2020 board officers and directors.
Melvin Rodrigue, president and CEO of Galatoire’s Restaurants, will serve as chair of the National Restaurant Association Board of Directors, and Stan Harris, president and CEO of the Louisiana Restaurant Association, will serve as chair of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Board of Trustees.
Equal opportunity dining: Golden Corral rounds up fine food at affordable prices
January 23, 2020
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Tell me where you eat, I’ll tell you who you are. OK, that’s not exactly how Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin’s 200-year-old culinary quip goes. But the revered French gastronome and epigrammatist’s original trope, boiled down to “you are what you eat,” easily spins to our usage today. Where we eat is, in so many ways, who we are — dictated by taste, culture, curiosity, tolerance of restaurant norms (the noise, oh, the noise), and, let’s face it, the ability to pony up when the bill drops without losing our lunch, dinner or brunch.
Golden Corral – They have everything imaginable on their buffet and dessert bar
January 10, 2020
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Making pleasurable dining affordable for every guest, at every restaurant, every day. While our commitment begins each day with preparing delicious food, we also believe in providing outstanding hospitality. Being best in class is what we are all about…. and that is a direct tribute to all the men and women who work here, who strive each day to deliver a pleasurable dining experience for families across America.
The 10 Best Full-Service Franchise Deals
December, 2019
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Golden Corral Raised More Than $1 Million for Disabled American Veterans
November 18, 2019
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Golden Corral continued its 19-year tradition last week by serving a complimentary “thank you” meal to active duty and retired U.S. military personnel on Military Appreciation Night, in addition to raising funds through guest contributions for DAV (Disabled American Veterans) during the weeks leading up to the event.
INSIDE BUSINESS – SUCCESSFUL HAMPTON ROADS RESTAURANT OPERATOR AIMS TO EMPOWER OTHERS
September 19, 2019
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Hu Odom owns 20 Golden Corral restaurants in four states, employs up to a couple thousand people and is in a position to help more people make a career in the hospitality industry.
NORTHERN NEVADA BUSINESS VIEW – GOLDEN CORRAL BUFFET TARGETS RENO FOR EXPANSION
September 10, 2019
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Golden Corral, the nation’s largest grill buffet chain, believes that Reno is the perfect place for its rapidly expanding and proven business model.
GOLDEN CORRAL BUFFET TARGETS RENO FOR EXPANSION
September 9, 2019
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Golden Corral, the nation’s largest grill buffet chain, understands that prime real estate in an area where customers are craving its popular home-cooked favorites is the best ingredient for a successful restaurant. The company believes that Reno, Nevada is the perfect place for its rapidly expanding and proven business model. The next step is to choose an experienced entrepreneur to lead Golden Corral’s new franchise expansion efforts in Reno.
EAT DRINK DEALS – GOLDEN CORRAL SIRLOIN AND RIBS
August 30, 2019
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Golden Corral is currently featuring Sirloin Steak and Ribs on their dinner buffet.
FRANCHISING.COM – GOLDEN CORRAL CELEBRATES SUMMER WITH SLOW-SMOKED SIRLOIN AND SHRIMP TRIO
June 26, 2019
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Golden Corral, the nation’s largest grill-buffet chain, is cooking up a new culinary experience for dinner. Starting on Wednesday, June 26, customers can enjoy the new Slow-Smoked Sirloin and Shrimp Trio.
THE BUSINESS JOURNAL – 2019 CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY WINNERS
May 31, 2019
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Golden Corral supports three primary causes across the nearly 500 company and franchise restaurants throughout the United States.
FRANCHISING.COM – GOLDEN CORRAL LAUNCHES NEW INNOVATIVE AD CAMPAIGN
April 29, 2019
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Golden Corral, the nation’s #1 buffet-grill chain, in partnership with The VIA Agency, announces the launch of a new and different integrated advertising campaign, “The Only One for Everyone.”
MEDIAPOST AGENCY DAILY – GOLDEN CORRAL MESSAGING PIVOTS FROM FOOD TO PEOPLE IN NEW CAMPAIGN
April 29, 2019
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“The Only One for Everyone” campaign, developed with The VIA Agency, features families, sports teams and colleagues from various backgrounds, tastes and dining preferences to illustrate how everyone can find a meal they enjoy at a price they can afford.
TRIANGLE BUSINESS JOURNAL – TRIANGLE NONPROFITS, COMPANIES AND CHARITIES WIN 2019 CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY AWARDS
April 22, 2019
Golden Corral will receive recognition at luncheon on June 5 at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary. The winners and the categories in which they won will be announced at the event.
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE – WORK IS UNDERWAY ON MORENO VALLEY’S GOLDEN CORRAL
April 18, 2019
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In Moreno Valley, Golden Corral is moving into an 11,000 square foot building. The restaurant will feature a new design concept.
NATION’S RESTAURANT NEWS – MENU TRACKER: NEW ITEMS FROM GOLDEN CORRAL
April 10, 2019
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THE BUSINESS JOURNAL – GOLDEN CORRAL ROPES NEW LOCATIONS FOR FRESNO, VISALIA
April 5, 2019
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Golden Corral has announced two commitments from franchisees in Fresno and Visalia, with openings forecasted in the next 12-15 months.
Golden Corral announces $2.5M fundraising goal to benefit military families
April 1, 2019
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Camp Corral is a nonprofit founded by the restaurant chain that provides a free week of camp for children, ages eight to 15, of wounded, injured, ill or fallen military service members.
GLOBE NEWSWIRE – GOLDEN CORRAL ANNOUNCES ANNUAL FUNDRAISING GOAL OF $2.5 MILLION TO BENEFIT OUR NATION’S MILITARY FAMILIES
March 27, 2019
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To celebrate the ninth year of its annual fundraiser for Camp Corral, as well as its unique relationship with the nonprofit, Golden Corral dramatically increased the total fundraising goal for this year by approximately $1 million.
FSR MAGAZINE – GOLDEN CORRAL INTRODUCES NEW EASTER HOLIDAY MENU TO GO OPTION
March 25, 2019
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Customers can now place online orders for their Easter meals in advance through Golden Corral’s website and pick up a traditional family meal before Easter Sunday at their nearest Golden Corral restaurant.
FRANCHISING.COM – GOLDEN CORRAL FRANCHISEE HU ODOM HONORED FOR HELPING COMMUNITY
March 22, 2019
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Hu Odom owns 20 Golden Corral restaurants in Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina and Georgia. He has been with Golden Corral since 1986, and is one of the chain’s most successful operators, winning its Franchisee of the Year award three times.
THE FRESNO BEE – POPULAR BUFFET RESTAURANT GOLDEN CORRAL PLANS TO OPEN IN FRESNO, CA
March 19, 2019
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Golden Corral, a buffet restaurant long desired by Fresnans, is planning to open a location in Fresno. The popular chain with 495 restaurants nationwide has a franchisee in the area who has paid the franchise fee and is looking for locations to open a Golden Corral, said Van Ingram, the company’s vice president of franchise development.
FRANCHISING.COM – GOLDEN CORRAL LEADERS HONORED AT WOMEN’S FOODSERVICE FORUM CONFERENCE
March 18, 2019
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CEO Lance Trenary Named Industry Titan; Suzanna Wooten Named Change Maker. Golden Corral President and CEO Lance Trenary was named an Industry Titan for his commitment to prioritizing women’s advancement within the company.
FAST CASUAL – WOMEN IN THE LEAD – ROCKING THE FOOD CHAIN LADDER: 27 FEMALE RESTAURANT EXECS
March 12, 2019
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In honor of International Women’s Day, March 8, and Women’s History Month, Fast Casual interviewed 27 female executives leading the limited-service industry. This installment has 13 interviews, including an insightful Q&A with Shelley Wolford, SVP of Communications & Strategy – Golden Corral Corporation.
FRANCHISE TIMES – GOLDEN CORRAL FINDING GOLD IN CALIFORNIA
March 8, 2019
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North Carolina-based Golden Corral is finding riches along the West Coast, as the southern-themed grill-buffet chain begins to tap the massive California market after first opening in the City of Industry back in 2012.
ENTREPRENEUR.COM – FRANCHISE 500 FASTEST-GROWING FRANCHISES RANKING
March 1, 2019
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Golden Corral restaurants rank in list of fastest-growing franchise restaurants
SYRACUSE.COM – GOLDEN CORRAL IN SYRACUSE ANNOUNCES OPENING DATE
February 25, 2019
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Golden Corral has announced the opening date of its new Syracuse restaurant. The much-awaited opening of the all-you-can-eat buffet will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 11. The Syracuse buffet will be the chain’s seventh Upstate New York location.
KILLEEN DAILY HERALD – VETERANS REFLECT ON THE COMMUNITY THEY GREW ALONGSIDE
February 23, 2019
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Retired First Sgt. Henry Winslow visits with fellow Vietnam Veterans on Wednesday, February 20, 2019, during a weekly gathering at Golden Corral in Killeen. In 2008, he officially started the Retired Military Brothers Association of Central Texas with three other retiree friends to facilitate those sorts of connections and camaraderie with local veterans. Through the years, the group has grown to 19 regular members who meet every Wednesday at the Golden Corral in Killeen, TX.
PR NEWSWIRE – INTERNATIONAL FOODSERVICE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (IFMA) ANNOUNCES 2019 SILVER PLATE AWARD RECIPIENTS: RECOGNIZING OPERATOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR CAREERS TO THE FOODSERVICE INDUSTRY
February 19, 2019
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The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) is proud to announce the 2019 IFMA Silver Plate Award recipients. Silver Plate winners in nine categories were unveiled today at the 2019 IFMA Chain Operators EXchange (COEX) in New Orleans.
IFMA’s annual Gold & Silver Plate Awards enable the industry to honor the nation’s leading foodservice operator talent. Golden Corral’s own, Beverly Lynch, is a recipient of the 2019 Silver Plate Class. Congratulations to Beverly and her team on a well-deserved award and the recognition of industry peers.
NWI.COM – ‘NEXT-GENERATION’ GOLDEN CORRAL MAKES ITS LONG-AWAITED RETURN TO SCHERERVILLE AFTER CLOSING FOUR YEARS AGO
February 19, 2019
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The Golden Corral restaurant at 915 Eagle Ridge Drive in Schererville reopened Saturday, rising like a freshly carved phoenix onto a cafeteria tray after closing four years ago.
NCRLA – 2019 STARS OF THE INDUSTRY AWARDS WINNERS: GOLDEN CORRAL CORPORATION’S PRESIDENT & CEO AWARDED RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR
February 18, 2019
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Restaurateur of the Year Lance Trenary, President of Golden Corral Lance Trenary has dedicated his career to making positive impacts every day as a mentor, leader, ambassador, and lobbyist for the hospitality industry’s 1.6 million employees. He began his 43-year career in his father’s restaurant. Lance has led every functional area of the business, including development, human resources, training, facilities, and ultimately President and CEO. As President and Chief Executive, Lance leads the long-term strategy, culture, innovation, and development of the 46-year-old, Raleigh-based family dining company with almost 500 restaurants in 42 states.
GLOBE NEWSWIRE – CAMP CORRAL APPOINTS THREE NEW MEMBERS TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
February 14, 2019
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Camp Corral, a free summer camp for children of wounded, injured, ill and fallen military service members, announced today that three new members will be joining the board of directors: Tony Jeffreys, Adam Daland and Mary Beth Ormiston. Current board member Lance Trenary has been elected chairman. “We are thrilled to welcome these new members to our board and look forward to incorporating their unique expertise,” said Leigh Longino, CEO of Camp Corral. “Their experience ranges from financial and fundraising to camp management, and I am confident that these new additions to the team will propel us forward as an organization and allow us to change the lives of even more military children.” Camp Corral, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation, is a free, one-of-a-kind summer camp for children of wounded, injured, ill and fallen military service members. Since its founding in 2011 by Golden Corral, Camp Corral has grown to 21 camp sessions in 17 states and has served more than 21,000 children. Although any child ages 8 to 15 from a military family is eligible, registration priority is given to children of wounded, disabled or fallen military service members. For more information, visit www.campcorral.org.
2019 FRANCHISE FINANCE 500 RANKING – GOLDEN CORRAL RESTAURANTS IS RANKED #34
February 1, 2019
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Forty years after the very first Franchise 500 ranking, the franchise industry is still going strong and more competitive than ever. More than 1,000 companies applied for this year’s ranking, and those that rose to the top reveal the latest trends as well as the companies that continue to evolve to keep going strong year after year. Golden Corral moved up 20 spots from last year’s rank to #34 across all industries and is ranked #1 in its specific category (Miscellaneous Full-Service Restaurants). We ranked 16th amongst all restaurants on the list.
FRANCHISING WORLD: THE GIFT OF GOODWILL: ESTABLISHING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS THROUGH CHARITABLE GIVING – BY PAULA MORAN, VP OF NATIONAL MARKETING FOR GOLDEN CORRAL CORPORATION.
February 1, 2019
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Many franchises partner with a charitable organization to help support a worthwhile cause. Whether teaming up with a youth organization, raising money for medical research or helping families in need, these initiatives provide financial resources and awareness for a charity while creating community goodwill for the franchise.
MILITARY APPRECIATION + CAMP CORRAL
Golden Corral has lent its support for many years to the United States military, its veterans and their families. For the past 18 years, each restaurant in the system has thanked more than 300,000 active duty and retired U.S. military personnel for their service with a free dinner buffet and beverage, while also raising donations for Disabled American Veterans (D AV). Since the annual Military Appreciation Night program began in 2001, Golden Corral has provided more than 5.7 million free “thank you” meals while also generating more than $15.7 million for DAV. In addition to hosting Military Appreciation Night each November, Golden Corral is a founding sponsor of Camp Corral, who provides a free, one-of-a-kind summer camp for children of wounded, injured, ill, or fallen military families. Since 2011, the franchise and its guests have provided nearly $11 million to support Camp Corral, sending more than 21,000 children to camp.
FRANCHISING.COM – THE CALIFORNIA “GOLDEN CORRAL” RUSH IS ON!
February 1, 2019
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There is a new California rush and it is with Golden Corral. The nation’s largest grill-buffet chain, Golden Corral, is a dominating force in the restaurant buffet market space. The North Carolina-based brand, with nearly 500 locations nationwide, is built on consistent leadership and a long history of private ownership. Nowhere is the popularity, success, and expansion of the brand more on display than the California market. “Our customers love the food and I appreciate the support that Golden Corral has provided,” said Rey Vasquez, a Multi-Unit Golden Corral Franchisee.
FORBES MAGAZINE – GOOD FOOD INSTITUTE (GFI) HAS GOLDEN CORRAL TIED IN #4 SPOT FOR PLANT-BASED ENTREES
January 31, 2019
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The annual scorecard from the Good Food Institute (GFI) analyzes the top 100 restaurant chains based on their plant-based entrée choices. Golden Corral tied for the #4 spot amongst restaurants offering plant-based meals, with vegetarian and vegan options made available to diners.
FSR MAGAZINE – THE CLASSIC BUFFET CHAIN IS FORGING AHEAD WITH A REVAMPED IMAGE
January 24, 2019
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To keep up with increased competition, Golden Corral is undergoing the company’s largest redesign yet as it aims to revamp the look and feel of its restaurants. The new prototype features a contemporary look, which includes stone exterior features, wood-toned interior ceilings, and a double-sided fireplace.
WINTER PARK MAGAZINE – LIFE’S A BUFFET: ERIC HOLM’S RISE FROM BUSBOY TO GOLDEN CORRAL MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISEE
January 23, 2019
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Franchisee Eric Holm now has just about everything he could want but he started his career as busboy at a Sonny’s BBQ, and has never forgotten his humble roots. That’s one reason why he and his wife Diane rank among the region’s most generous philanthropists.
THE FOOD INSTITUTE BLOG – BUFFETS SHOW SIGNS OF LIFE WITH A NEW LOOK
January 22, 2019
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Golden Corral continues to look to the future with investments in design innovation. In the midst of increased restaurant popularity, one of the most simple concepts, the buffet, has been struggling to make ends meet. The only buffet style chain to have sustained success over this period appears to be Golden Corral.
FRANCHISING.COM: GOLDEN CORRAL RECEIVES PRESIDENT’S VETERANS RECOGNITION AWARD FROM COCA-COLA
December 13, 2018
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National Buffet Chain’s 18-Year DAV Fundraising Campaign Total Tops $15 Million Golden Corral recently received the 2018 President’s Veterans Recognition Award from Coca-Cola as part of an annual veterans celebration. Golden Corral was selected for the award based on exemplary support of the U.S. Armed Forces, its veterans and families. President & CEO Lance Trenary remarked, “I was humbled to receive this award from Coca-Cola on behalf of Golden Corral, our franchisees, and all of the women and men who work in our restaurants and at our support center. We enjoy incredible freedoms because of our military and the sacrifices that those who served have made. We are grateful for the opportunity to give back to the men and women of our military and their families who have given so much for us.”
NATION’S RESTAURANT NEWS: 7 NEW RESTAURANT PROTOTYPES THAT DEBUTED IN 2018
December 12, 2018
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Golden Corral prototype focuses on efficiencies with a new prototype that opened in Greensboro, N.C. Golden Corral expects its newly opened “Gateway” prototype to provide labor efficiencies and to enhance appeal for the buffet chain’s guests.
FOX BUSINESS NETWORK: GOLDEN CORRAL FRANCHISEE ERIC HOLM INTERVIEW – “HELPINGS FROM THE HEART”
November 21, 2018
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FOX Business News highlights Golden Corral Franchisee Eric Holm’s philanthropic efforts and community contributions.
PEOPLE MAGAZINE: ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS WHERE MILITARY MEMBERS CAN GET FREE FOOD ON VETERANS DAY
November 7, 2018
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With Veterans Day around the corner, restaurants around the country are recognizing those who have served—and those who are currently serving—our nation. Golden Corral: This nationwide family restaurant chain will be holding a Military Appreciation Night on November 12. Retired military personnel, veterans, active duty and National Guard or Reserves are entitled to a free dine-in “thank you” dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. According to the restaurant website, they have served more than 5 million “thank you” meals in the last 17 years.
PARADE MAGAZINE: 35 FOOD FREEBIES FOR VETERANS DAY 2018
November 6, 2018
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There are plenty of restaurants that will be thanking active and retired military personnel for their service. How will they be thanking them? With free food or free drink or sometimes both. At all of its restaurants nationwide (489 restaurants in 41 states), Golden Corral will serve free dinner buffets with beverage from 5p.m. to 9:00 p.m., on Monday, November 12, to any person who is serving or has served in a United States military branch, including the National Guard and Reserves. Identification is not required.
THE FLAGSHIP MILITARY NEWS: RESTAURANT CHAIN AND GUESTS DONATE $1.8 MILLION TO SUMMER CAMPS FOR MILITARY CHILDREN
October 26, 2018
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Golden Corral, the nation’s largest grill-buffet chain, announced it raised more than $1.8 million to help support Camp Corral, a nonprofit corporation that provides free, one-of-a-kind summer camp experiences for children of wounded, injured, ill or fallen service members. Golden Corral President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Trenary made the check presentation to Camp Corral at Golden Corral’s annual convention in San Francisco on Sunday night. The company also welcomed a family from Crystal Lake, IL whose daughter was a camp counselor at Camp Corral earlier this summer.
RESTAURANT BUSINESS MAGAZINE: STILL SERVING, DESPITE BEING CLOSED
September 21, 2018
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The Golden Corral in Morehead City, NC, suffered damage in Hurricane Florence and is temporarily closed. But the restaurant brought food in from neighboring store to host free cookouts in the parking lot this week.
WFAA-TV: GOLDEN CORRAL HONORS WFAA STAFF MEMBER
September 14, 2018
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The WFAA Dallas morning news team surprises staff member, Larry Magee, with a meal from his favorite restaurant, Golden Corral, in celebration of his 25 years at the station.
Golden Corral targets Reno for expansion
Sep 10, 2019
Golden Corral, the nation’s largest grill buffet chain, believes that Reno is the perfect place for its rapidly expanding and proven business model. The next step is to choose an experienced entrepreneur to lead Golden Corral’s new franchise expansion efforts in Reno.
FRANCHISE UPDATE – TIPS & TACTICS FROM 11 BRANDS ON TARGETING & CONNECTING WITH CUSTOMERS
August 18, 2018
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Understanding that families are multi-generational is part of what has contributed to the expansion of Golden Corral’s endless buffet to more than 150 items, says Shelley Wolford, the brand’s senior vice president of communications and strategy. “We have something for everyone.” The brand also has strong appeal with Hispanic consumers and development has been focused throughout the Southwest, Texas, and California. In addition, in its national media spend, says Wolford, “We purchase television networks and programs that are preferred by this consumer group. We also buy Spanish-language television. All of our commercials are created in English and Spanish, as are our merchandising materials.”
RESTAURANT DEVELOPMENT + DESIGN MAGAZINE- HOW TO: REDUCE A KITCHEN FOOTPRINT
August 9, 2018
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A mix of factors are conspiring to make kitchen footprints smaller. From buffets to fine dining, owners and developers are seeking to save money on real estate, improve operational efficiency and maximize labor. Golden Corral worked with Profitality, a Miami-based company that works with restaurants to attain optimum functionality. Representatives from the company visited existing Golden Corrals, ran time-motion studies, and looked at where kitchen employees took extra steps and at inefficient locations of equipment. The result of the new design and the mockup is that, going forward, kitchens for the buffet brand will be closer to 2,900 square feet, rather than the former 3,700. So far, one is operational, in Greensboro, N.C.
NATION’S RESTAURANT NEWS – MENU TRACKER: NEW ITEMS FROM GOLDEN CORRAL
August 8, 2018
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Golden Corral launches Wing Fest, featuring large breaded chicken wings and “boneless wings” in choice of five sauces: Nashville Hot, Buffalo, Spicy Garlic, Honey Sesame and Smoked BBQ. Baby Back Ribs in a smoky barbecue sauce are also featured and included in the price of the dinner buffet. Available daily after 4 p.m. and Sunday after 11 a.m., though September 23.
GOLDEN CORRAL PRESIDENT & CEO LANCE TRENARY HONORED WITH PATRIOT AWARD
June 19, 2018
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Golden Corral President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Trenary was recently presented with the Patriot Award by the Board of Trustees of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. for his exceptional support and dedication to the organization from 2011 to 2018.
GOLDEN CORRAL RANKED #1 FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANT IN ENTREPRENEUR’S TOP 200 FOOD AND RESTAURANT FRANCHISES OF 2018
June 14, 2018
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GOLDEN CORRAL FEELS LIKE HOME
May 15, 2018
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Golden Corral is pleased with the new look. More important, customers are responding well, especially at the first prototype location. Their response, the chain hopes, will be echoed as more stores are rolled out.
HOW GOLDEN CORRAL IS DOMINATING THE BUFFET SEGMENT
April 11, 2018
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The chain is making decisions for the long term because it is a privately held company that will likely stay in the same hands for a long time. Rather than cut back on service or maintenance to improve profits or pay off debt, Golden Corral is making investments in its business. “We’re constantly making decisions that are consistent with us being around 100 years,” said Golden Corral President and CEO Lance Trenary. “We don’t shortcut anything. Don’t get me wrong, we’re constantly working on margin improvement and how we can reduce complexity without taking away from any of the quality aspect of our business. But we’re not going to reduce any quality aspect. We have this commitment to ongoing product improvement, and the guest appreciates that.”
GIVING AND GROWING
April 1, 2018
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On the business front, Holm has been busy growing and diversifying since he was last profiled by Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine in 2015. “I’ve added three more Golden Corrals and have another scheduled to open later this year,” he said. He’s excited about the new location because it will feature the brand’s new Gateway restaurant design.
GATEWAY TO A NEW ERA
February 15, 2018
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One detail of Golden Corral’s new prototype that guests will immediately notice are the reduced views into the kitchen from the buffet area. This change was a deliberate strategy to hide some of the more functional aspects of the operations, while still creating “cooking theatres” to display visually appealing menu items in areas such as a carving station, smokehouse and cake decorating preparation.
GOLDEN CORRAL RANKED A TOP FRANCHISE IN ENTREPRENEUR’S HIGHLY COMPETITIVE 39TH ANNUAL FRANCHISE 500
January 22, 2018
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Golden Corral recently ranked #54 in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500, the world’s first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking. Placement in the Franchise 500 is a highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry, as evidenced by the fact that Entrepreneur received more than 1,000 applications this year, making it one of the company’s most competitive rankings ever. Golden Corral’s placement in the Franchise 500 was based on its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.
The key factors that go into Entrepreneur’s evaluation include costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. All franchises are given a cumulative score based on more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500 in ranking order.
Over its 39 years in existence, the Franchise 500 has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. Golden Corral’s position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity.
To view Golden Corral in the full ranking, visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February issue of Entrepreneur.
GOLDEN CORRAL PROTOTYPE FOCUSES ON EFFICIENCIES
January 3, 2018
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On December 21, Golden Corral reopened its restaurant in Greensboro, NC featuring the first of the building redesign, called Gateway. The prototype incorporates a contemporary appearance for the interior and exterior of the building, with improved layouts for the dining room, service bars and kitchen areas. The new facility design also enables greater customer service and dining room comfort, as well as increased energy efficiency.
GOLDEN CORRAL FRANCHISEE ERIC HOLM INTERVIEWED ON FOX BUSINESS NETWORK
November 22, 2017
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Golden Corral franchisee Eric Holm appeared on the Varney & Company Show on Fox Business Network to discuss his annual Helpings from the Heart event. For the 25th consecutive year, Holm and the Salvation Army hosted the event to provide more than 20,000 Thanksgiving meals to deserving residents in Orlando.
GOLDEN CORRAL HOSTS MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT
November 19, 2017
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For the last 16 years, Golden Corral restaurants have been saying thank you to veterans throughout the nation by hosting Military Appreciation Night, during which the men and women who have served our country are invited to enjoy a free meal.
GOLDEN CORRAL ROLLS OUT SMOKERS
September 26, 2017
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Golden Corral has completed the rollout of smokers to its 485 restaurants when it also introduced a new line of barbecue items at the buffet chain.
Golden Corral’s new Smokehouse menu features slow-cooked, smoked meats such as pork, chicken, ribs, turkey, and brisket. It also includes several flavorful side items and a variety of barbecue sauces – Sweet BBQ, Spicy BBQ, and Smokehouse BBQ, as well as regional BBQ sauces.
GOLDEN CORRAL ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR MAJOR RESTAURANT REDESIGN
September 15, 2017
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Golden Corral’s new design is centered on making guests feel like they are in a cozy, comfortable environment, said President & CEO Lance Trenary. Larger windows, new lighting fixtures, stacked stone and wooden panels are being incorporated to give the space a sophisticated, but homey quality.
Some version of Golden Corral’s new design will be incorporated in 15 new restaurants in 2018 as well as at least four pre-existing locations, Trenary said. The company is using the Greensboro location as a test to see what elements of the design work best and what can be tweaked in future iterations.
PAST DISASTERS SHOW A LONG RECOVERY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
September 6, 2017
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After Katrina, the city of Kenner, Louisiana, west of New Orleans, resembled a ghost town. The Golden Corral franchise restaurant there suffered extensive damage. Managers were able to hire a crew for repairs, and within 10 weeks the restaurant was fixed up enough to reopen. But there were few residents around, and only nine of 70 staffers were in town to run the place, says Malcolm Clark, the restaurant’s director of operations.
IFA FRANCHISEE SPOTLIGHT – Q&A WITH MICKEY CHANCE OF GOLDEN CORRAL
August 23, 2017
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Golden Corral franchise owner Mickey Chance was featured on the International Franchise Association’s Franchise Opportunities blog.
GOLDEN CORRAL NAMES DARRYL WEBB SR. AS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
August 1, 2017
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Golden Corral, the nation’s largest grill-buffet chain, announced restaurant industry veteran Darryl Webb Sr. has been hired as Senior Vice President of Operations.
GOLDEN CORRAL ROLLS OUT BRUNCH SYSTEMWIDE
May 19, 2017
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The breakfast-and-lunch offerings at the Raleigh, N.C.-based buffet chain will be available every day from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. They include new strawberry cheesecake French toast, made-to-order eggs and omelets, biscuits and gravy, sausage-and-egg skillets and carved glazed ham, as well as fried chicken, pot roast and miniature burgers.
FINDER’S KEEPERS – BECOME THE EMPLOYER OF CHOICE IN YOUR MARKETS
May 1, 2017
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After 25 years in the restaurant business, Mike Richey knows that an offer of a dollar more per hour from a competitor can be too much for an employee to refuse. Richey, who operates five Golden Corrals, wishes his employees well when they leave. But that’s not the end of the story. A couple of weeks later he calls them to ask if they’d like to return to their old job–a practice that has paid off for him over the years.
FORMER GOLDEN CORRAL PRESIDENT AND CEO TED FOWLER NAMED WINNER OF THE THAD AND ALICE EURE AMBASSADOR OF HOSPITALITY AWARD
April 15, 2016
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HOW TO KEEP COMMUNICATION OPEN WITH FRANCHISEES
September 1, 2015
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Like most relationships in life, a strong bond between a franchisor and their franchisees is built on several core values of communication. Availability and consistency. Open, honest interaction. Trust and support.
SECRETS TO SUCCESSFUL FRANCHISING
August 1, 2015
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How are some of the top franchises successful? There is no one-size-fits all philosophy. What works well for one franchise may not for another one in a different industry. But there are some traits many franchises share that establish a solid foundation and continue to keep brands successful and relevant over the years.
A LOBSTER IN EVERY POT
March 18, 2014
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Lobster, long considered a luxury, is becoming a little more ordinary.
Soaring supply and falling prices for whole live lobster, along with new food trends, are changing how people eat the crustacean—perhaps for the long term.
Sandwich shop Quiznos, like other inexpensive chains, is adding more lobster dishes alongside its subs. Golden Corral, the buffet-style restaurant, has put lobster on the menu for the first time.