LAGUNA HILLS, Calif., Nov. 29, 2006 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Melt Inc. (OTCBB:MLTC), owner, operator and franchisor of quick service restaurants operating under the name "Melt Gelato & Crepe Cafe," has appointed Scott M. Miller as the Company's Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Mr. Miller will be responsible for managing Melt's corporate finances and planning and executing the Company's financial objectives. Mr. Miller will also work closely with Melt's President and CEO, Mr. Clive Barwin, to offer strategic direction as the Company continues to execute on its aggressive expansion plan across the U.S.
Most recently, Mr. Miller served as Director of Finance and Planning for Carlson Restaurants Worldwide (CRW), owner, operator and franchisor of casual dining restaurants across the world. CRW operates and franchises more than 800 T.G.I. Friday's casual dining restaurants across the U.S. and in more than 50 other countries, as well as owning Pick Up Stix, a chain of more than 100 Asian restaurants that serve Americanized-Chinese food. In this role, Mr. Miller functioned as brand Chief Financial Officer for CRW's Pick Up Stix restaurant chain, implementing financially responsible business programs and providing financial and operational analysis for all initiatives, as well as recommendations for goals, strategies, and tactics to achieve concept sales and profitability goals. While with CRW, Mr. Miller was instrumental in developing a distribution strategy for the company fleet yielding $300,000 in annual savings as well as restructuring contracts and relationships resulting in significant savings for the company.
"Scott Miller is a great fit with our management team and our concept here at Melt," commented Clive Barwin, Melt Inc.'s President and CEO. "His experience handling complex financial and accounting duties for one of the world's largest franchise restaurant holding companies and its divisions, coupled with his direct involvement in the franchise restaurant business environment, allows for a high level of experience and knowledge to be added to our team. As the Melt concept continues to attract customers and franchisees alike, and as we continue to open stores across the U.S., Scott's experience will help us drive value by growing efficiently and successfully."
Prior to his position with CRW, Mr. Miller held numerous positions with the T.G.I. Friday's casual dining restaurant chain, including serving as Director of Financial Analysis for the $1.7 billion brand. Mr. Miller focused on developing operating plans and strategic plans for T.G.I. Friday's while also analyzing all marketing initiatives for the brand, including mass media, print, new product development. Mr. Miller also has direct experience managing a restaurant business, running a $3.1 million T.G.I. Friday's unit and managing a staff of 65 employees. Miller increased year sales by 8% by focusing on customer service at the store location while reducing inventory by 15% and subsequently reducing food cost. He has also served as a Senior Financial Analyst with Nortel Networks and as a Bank Examiner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Mr. Miller is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor's degree in Administration and Accounting. He received his MBA in Finance from Indiana University. Mr. Miller is a resident of Dana Point, California.
To learn more about Melt Inc. please visit the Company's corporate Web site at http://www.meltgelato.com.
About Melt Inc.
Melt Inc., and its subsidiaries, are in the business of owning, operating and franchising quick service restaurants marketed under the name "Melt Gelato & Crepe Cafe." The Company's main product offerings include Italian gelato and sorbetto, sweet and savory crepes, gourmet Italian cafe, and nutritious smoothies made from 100% crushed fruit.
The Melt concept leverages the universal appeal and enormous volume of ice cream sales and consumption in the United States and around the world. Melt provides its customers with a unique purchase experience in a European atmosphere. Gelato is an authentic Italian dessert that has been popular for hundreds of years in Europe where it is available on almost every street corner. The gelato industry in the United States is in its infancy and Melt has the opportunity to dominate this rapidly growing niche industry.
Melt offers its franchisees dedicated support through marketing and merchandising tools, excellent product and streamlined operational procedures that make running a Melt franchise an exciting and rewarding business experience. Since being founded in 2003 after years of research and development, Melt has rapidly grown from one store to twenty-one (open and under construction) with major expansion plans ahead. Melt Inc. is headquartered in Laguna Hills, California.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this release are "forward-looking" and as such are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary significantly from the results expressed or implied in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially amongst other risks and uncertainties include Melt's ability to sell further franchises, the impact of competition, the ability to find suitable retail locations, additional capital needs and other risks outlined in Melt's quarterly reports on Form 10-QSB, annual reports on Form 10-KSB and Melt's other disclosure documents filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.