Johnny Carino's Signs Major Development Agreement for Northeast U.S.

Fired Up Inc. signed a major Franchise development agreement with Tuscan Due LLC this week for the development of up to 35 Johnny Carino's Country Italian restaurants in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Long Island, N.Y.

This development agreement brings the Company's total development commitments to 189 units in the U.S. and internationally.

Tuscan Due LLC has an experienced multi-unit operator at the helm, Harry Rose. Rose is currently President of The Rose Group which owns and operates Applebee's and Roy Rogers in Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

"When you're picking a Restaurant Franchise to develop, the most important ingredients to ensure success in that concept are the experiences and integrity of the senior management, the economics and the quality of the food," says Rose, Operating Principal. "Johnny Carino's scores at the top in all three."

"We could not ask for a better partner. Their passion for food and team culture are a perfect fit for Johnny Carino's," says Norman Abdallah, Co-CEO and President of Fired Up Inc. "With Harry's operating successes, market knowledge and experience in developing several national concepts, we are able to add another exceptional partner to help expand Carino's worldwide."

Fired Up Inc. was founded in 1997 by Creed Ford and Norman Abdallah. They currently operate and franchise 34 restaurants including Johnny Carino's Country Italian, Kona Ranch Steakhouse, Gumbo's Louisiana Style Cafe and Brown Bar in Texas, Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma and Colorado and internationally in Kuwait and Egypt.