KENNY ROGERS GETTING SMALLER
By Adnews Staff
International Hospitality of Markham, Ont. is closing 11 of its 19 Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurants because of financial problems. The move will leave the company with five corporate stores and three franchise outlets. Advertising for the chain is done by The Gingko Group of Toronto. International announced it was having financial problems last December. The company reported a net loss of $16.5 million in the quarter ending Dec. 29, and indicated that the next quarter would bring more bad news. International was started in 1992 by Bruce Raba and Boyd Simpson, two restaurant business veterans. Raba worked for the KFC fried chicken chain and Simpson was a lawyer for the Canadian master franchiser for KFC in Canada, Toronto-based Scott's Hospitality. Raba left International last November and Simpson departed in February.