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Delia Champion

Company: Delia Champion, Atlanta, Georgia
Entry Submitted By: Trevelino/Keller Communications Group
Company Description: The Flying Biscuit Cafe is an eclectic neighborhood restaurant nationally recognized for its hip cuisine and charming atmosphere. This Atlanta institution is well-known for its unique Southern fare. Founded in Atlanta in 1993 by Delia Champion and acquired by Raving Brands in 2006, there are currently three Flying Biscuit locations with several more planned to open throughout the Southeast in 2007
Nomination Category: Individual Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Entrepreneur – Service Businesses - Up to 100 Employees


Nomination Title: Delia Champion, Founder – The Flying Biscuit Cafe

  • Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated entrepreneur
    during the eligibility period (up to 500 words):

    Since entering into a partnership with Raving Brands in May 2006, Delia 
    Champion, the founder of the Atlanta based The Flying Biscuit Cafe, has seen her
    eclectic neighborhood restaurant - nationally recognized for its natural, hip
    cuisine and charming atmosphere – go from a neighborhood treasure to a sought-after
    franchise making its way throughout metro Atlanta, and soon throughout the
    Southeast and then nationwide.

    While working as a waitress at the Atlanta restaurant Indigo, Delia dreamed of
    opening up her own restaurant. In 1993, her dream became a reality when she
    opened The Flying Biscuit Cafe in charming Candler Park, an intown Atlanta
    neighborhood. The Candler Park restaurant opened to rave reviews and, a few
    years later in 2000, Delia opened a second location in Midtown Atlanta before
    partnering with Raving Brands in 2006 to franchise the concept.

    To date, The Flying Biscuit Cafe has been featured in Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Elle
    and Atlanta Magazine – and Delia has appeared on “Good Morning America,” “$40
    a Day with Rachael Ray,” “B. Smith with Style” and “Turner South's Blue Ribbon.”

    Atlanta-based Raving Brands, the multi-concept franchise portfolio company
    acknowledged for its success as a fast-casual restaurant franchisor, acquired The
    Flying Biscuit Cafe and is working closely with Delia to replicate the Biscuit’s
    tremendous success with franchised locations.

    Delia, the quintessential restaurant foodie, enthusiast and caregiver of food,
    believes she offers guests a “taste of heaven.” Delia is working alongside Raving
    Brands to grow the Flying Biscuit to its four current locations, with an additional
    two restaurants to open before the end of the year and another eight franchise
    agreements already signed. The restaurants serve an average of 1,000 of the
    signature “flying biscuits” per location each day.

    Additionally, this year Delia worked with publisher Gibbs-Smith to release her new
    cookbook, named what else, but The Flying Biscuit Cafe Cookbook. Brimming
    with one-of-a-kind recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and “flying
    biscuits,” it’s the only cookbook you need to get to the heart of authentic
    Southern comfort food.

    Also in production under Delia’s watchful eye for retail distribution in late
    2007 are the Biscuit’s famous cranberry-apple butter and balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

    While it may be customary for home grown brands to feel some negative
    sentiment when selling to corporate entities, Delia has integrated herself into
    every aspect of the opening of the franchised concepts, safe guarding all that makes the
    Biscuit, the Biscuit. In addition to her ongoing collaboration with Raving Brands,
    Delia continues to operate her two original restaurants while acting as a
    passionate brand ambassador with a focus on her food, employees and the
    maintaining consistency of the Flying Biscuit experience.

    With a growing restaurant brand, new cookbook and additional retail products on
    the way, Delia’s current success is a long shot from her days as a server – just
    hoping to open her own her very restaurant one day – today she owns a brand that
    draws people from near and far, neighbors, celebrities, tourists, foodies, families
    and those just looking to “share the biscuit love.”

  • List the URLs (web addresses) of any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that you would like the judges to see that support your nomination. IMPORTANT: List each URL on a separate line, begin each URL with http://, and enclose each URL in square brackets. For example, [http://www.yourcompany.com/pressrelease.html]:

    Restaurant’s Web site
    http://www.flyingbiscuit.com

    Flying Biscuit Cafe Cookbook on Amazon.com
    http://www.amazon.com/Flying-Biscuit-Cookbook-Delia-
    Champion/dp/1423602935/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-3168656-8114859?
    ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190819833&sr=8-1


    Pick-Up (See full articles below):
    • Atlanta Business Chronicle -
    http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2007/05/07/story7.html
    • Atlanta Journal-Constitution – http://www.ajc.com/living/content/shared-
    blogs/ajc/tabletalk/entries/2007/05/16/biscuit_flying.html

    • Peach Buzz - http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-
    blogs/accessatlanta/peachbuzz/index.html


    Restaurant Industry Trade Media Release Pick-Up:
    • QSR Magazine -
    http://www.qsrmagazine.com/articles/wire/story/20070504005410en
    • Fast Casual http://www.fastcasual.com/article.php?id=7513&na=1

  • Provide a brief biography of the nominated entrepreneur (up to 100 words):

    Delia grew up in the restaurant business. Her parents owned a New Jersey 
    taproom, where locals would trade their fresh produce for a hearty meal, an icy
    cold brew, and lots of entertaining conversation. The taproom was a fixture in the
    community, and Delia always enjoyed the energy and excitement of cooking for a
    crowd. While working as a server at the Atlanta restaurant Indigo, Delia dreamed
    of opening up her own restaurant. In 1993 that dream became a reality with the
    opening of the first location of The Flying Biscuit Cafe.