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
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.”
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
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.