1. By: Paige M. Speidel and Caitlin F. Kolkmann

2. Introduction to business T.G.I. Friday's (often shortened to "Friday's" in most countries, or "T.G.I.'s" in the United Kingdom) is an American restaurant chain which focuses on casual dining and including nearly 1000 restaurants in over 50 countries throughout the world. The company is a unit of the Carlson companies and its name is taken from the expression “TGIF” which means “Thank God/Goodness It’s Friday”. The chain is known for its appearance as well, with red-striped canopies, brass railings, Tiffany lamps, and frequent uses of antiques and other applications of unique decor.

3. Company History The Friday's restaurant chain was founded by Alan Stillman in 1965 in New York City, featuring standard American cuisine, bar food, and alcoholic beverages. The restaurant was located at the corner of 63rd Street and First Avenue. The exterior featured a red-and-white striped awning and blue paint, and the interior included wooden floors, Bentwood chairs, striped tablecloths; the bar area added brass rails and stained glass. The employees were young and wore wild uniforms, and every time someone had a birthday, the entire restaurant crew came around with a cake and sang Friday's traditional birthday song. The location where this Friday’s once stood is now a British pub called "Baker Street“. Though, the brass rails are still there. Their second location was established in 1970 in Memphis, Tennessee's Overton Square district, though this Friday’s, too, is now closed. The oldest continually operating Friday's resides today in Louisville, Kentucky on Linn Station Road. It opened in August 1977 and at the time was the thirty first restaurant in operation.

4. “Benefits of business to society” The “Give Me More Friday’s” program allows for frequent customers to gain “stripes” each time they dine at a Friday’s restaurant and use the card. According to their official webpage, “As a Give Me More Stripes member, you are treated as a special guest – receiving free food, exclusive offers, benefits, and more!”

5. Products of the business

6. Products, ctd.. (Menu) The T.G.I. Friday’s Menu includes: appetizers, soups, sides, salads, Jack Daniels Grill, steak, ribs, pasta, sandwiches, burgers, a lunch menu, desserts, kid’s menu, party platters, and of course, beverages, many of which signature and unique of the company.

7. Licensed products The company licenses its name to Heinz which produces a line of frozen foods sold in grocery stores. A line of snack items and pre-mixed liquor drinks are also licensed and sold.

8. Number of people employed While my partner and I were unable to find just how many people are employed to the chain of restaurants worldwide, we do know that there are more than 900 restaurants in 55 countries in three divisions, and from hosts to servers, bartenders to dishwashers, managers to executives, we determine somewhere from 300,000 – 500,000 people employed worldwide.

9. Growth since inception T.G.I. Friday’s in NYC As can be seen from T.G.I Friday’s first place of business in New York City to the overwhelming amount of restaurants now all over the world, the company has clearly thrived and grown significantly since its first establishment.

10. Additional info…

11. Additional Information T.G.I. Friday’s is a public corporation and it is multinational The company remained relatively the same because of its outstanding and overwhelming popularity Vertical merger No none challenges were found pertaining to the businesses' start up/progression/ect

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