AFC Enterprises Debuts on Fortune Magazine's America's 50 Best Companies for Minorities (7/01)

AFC Enterprises, Inc., the franchisor and operator of Church's Chicken™, Popeyes® Chicken & Biscuits, Cinnabon®, Seattle's Best Coffee® and Torrefazione Italia®, placed third in the category of Best Company for Blacks and 44th overall as one of Fortune Magazine's America's 50 Best Companies for Minorities (www.fortune.diversity.com ). AFC, appearing for the first time on the list, joined corporate giants such as Ford Motor Co., UPS, BellSouth and Avon Products. Rankings on the list were the result of 15 different qualitative and quantitative measures including how well minorities were paid, how many were in management, suppliers chosen by the company and charities in which it participates.

AFC's New Age of Opportunity program focuses on the following four areas:

• Expanding Franchise ownership opportunities for minorities and women;
• Cultivating new supplier relationships for minorities and women;
• Attracting and developing outstanding employees; and
• Enhancing the quality of life for people through meaningful community service.

Reflective of AFC's corporate culture, in 2000, minorities represented a total of 28.4 percent of its total workforce, 10 percent of its board, 12.1 percent of corporate officers, 18 percent of top paid employees, and 22.4 percent officials and managers. Women represented 48.4 percent of the company's total workforce, 25.7 percent of its corporate officers, 24 percent of top paid employees, and 33.4 percent officials and managers. Currently, women and minorities make up a total of 36 percent of AFC's board.

Another attribute of AFC's corporate culture is its community relations with a primary focus on housing and education. Examples of programs in which it participates include Habitat for Humanity, Multi-Cultural Foodservice Alliance, United Negro College Fund, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, the Black Leadership Forum, The Carter Center and Women's Food Service Forum.

AFC Enterprises is the operator or franchisor of more than 3,628 restaurants, bakeries and cafes in 28 countries. AFC's primary objective is to be the Franchisor of Choice®, the recognized leader in offering quality investment opportunities in highly recognizable brands and exceptional franchisee support systems and services. AFC had system-wide sales of approximately $2.4 billion in 2000.