Manhattan Bagel Voted 'Best Bagel' by New Jersey Consumers in Three Markets

New World Restaurant Group announced that its Manhattan Bagel brand was recently voted by consumers as the best bagel bakery in three New Jersey markets in surveys conducted by three Gannett newspapers.

Manhattan Bagel locations were the choice for "Best Bagels" in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, according to consumers voting in the Asbury Park Press' 2002 Readers Choice Award survey. This is the fifth consecutive year that the chain was selected for "Best Bagel" in the Neptune-based newspaper's annual reader poll covering restaurants and other retail establishments. In addition, New World's Einstein Bros brand was voted "One of the Best" in the bagel category in the Asbury Park Press survey. There are currently 18 Manhattan Bagel shops in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Einstein Bros has two locations in Monmouth.

In central New Jersey, readers of the Woodbridge-based Home News Tribune also voted Manhattan Bagel for "Best Bagel" for the fifth straight year. The choice of Manhattan Bagel for "Best Bagel" was echoed by consumers in New Jersey's Philadelphia suburbs, according to the Cherry Hill-based Courier Post's Readers Choice Award for 2002. There are eight Manhattan Bagel stores in the Home News Tribune's markets in Middlesex and Union counties and six locations in the communities covered by the Courier Post.

Results of the three surveys were published in October.

"This high praise voiced by New Jersey consumers for Manhattan Bagel and Einstein Bros mirrors similar honors awarded to New World's brands in communities from coast-to-coast," said company chairman and CEO Anthony Wedo. "These awards are a testament to the success of our emphasis on freshness, quality and good taste in New World's company-operated and franchised locations throughout the country."

New World is a leading company in the quick casual sandwich industry, the fastest-growing restaurant segment. The company operates locations primarily under the Einstein Bros and Noah's New York Bagels brands and primarily Franchises locations under the Manhattan Bagel and Chesapeake Bagel Bakery brands. As of October 1, 2002, the company's retail system consisted of 458 company-owned locations and 289 franchised and licensed locations in 34 states. The company also operates one dough production facility and one coffee roasting plant.