Mandarin has been chosen as the recipient of the 2004 Pinnacle Award for Company of the Year, selected by a jury on behalf of Foodservice and Hospitality Magazine, the country's leading foodservice and hospitality industry publication. The Pinnacle Awards recognize excellence throughout the nation in a variety of foodservice and hospitality categories. The nominees are judged on their impact on the industry, innovations and accomplishments, and community spirit. As the 16th winner of the annual award in the restaurant category, Mandarin joins such notable past winners as Tim Hortons, Boston Pizza, and The Keg. Mandarin was founded in 1979 by Mr. K.C. Chang, Mrs. Diana Chiu, Mr. George Chiu, and Mr. James Chiu. Since then, the company has continued to open new restaurants as popular as its first. The Pinnacle Award caps off an incredible 25th anniversary year in which the chain gave away 25 trips for two to China and over 140 lunch buffet parties for 25 people as part of the "Passport to China" promotion. In addition to the anniversary promotion, customers also enjoyed the famous buffet for free on July 1st of this year. "We wanted to thank Canadian citizens for making us feel at home and continually inspiring us," said Mandarin President James Chiu. Just a year before this act of sharing, the chain was hit hard by the widespread fear over SARS. Mandarin pushed through the tough times with a proactive approach and the support of its loyal customers. In order to help experts learn about and combat the virus, the company established The Mandarin Fund for SARS Research in conjunction with Mount Sinai Hospital, with an initial donation of $100,000. Mandarin's employees have also been known for giving. At the end of 2003, they fulfilled their commitment to raise one million dollars over five years for a new activity area for seniors at the Yee Hong Centre. These elements all contributed to Mandarin's win. On December 3, members from the industry gathered at The Royal York Hotel in Toronto for the awards presentation, including managing partners from each location, and some of Mandarin's valued suppliers. Suppliers to the chain also contributed to an ad campaign congratulating Mandarin on winning the award. "The pat on the back we've received from our suppliers is truly touching," said Chiu. "We have built up relationships now that will only grow stronger with this show of support. Most importantly, it will help us to better serve our customers and our community in the future." Since opening the first restaurant in Brampton in 1979, Mandarin has built a reputation for quality food and service. There are currently 16 Mandarin restaurants across Southern Ontario and more in the planning stages. The next scheduled Mandarin Restaurant will open in mid 2005. For more information, visit Mandarin's website at www.mandarinbuffet.com
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