Chef Bruno Partners with Tri-Star Systems to Franchise New ``Chef Bruno'' Italian Restaurant Concept; Parent of Chick -N- Grill Adds Family-Friendly Italian Concept to Franchise Portfolio.

MIAMI -- Tri-Star Systems, creator of Chick -N- Grill, the fastest-growing quick service chicken restaurant chain in the United States, announced today that the award-winning Chef Bruno has joined the company to develop and franchise a new family-friendly Italian restaurant concept under the Chef Bruno brand name.

The new chain will be marketed and franchised primarily as a standalone concept, though the parties plan to leverage dual branding opportunities as appropriate and are currently developing a casual-dining, dual-branded Chef Bruno/Chick -N- Grill location to be opened in South Florida by May 2006.

As part of his new partnership with Tri-Star, Chef Bruno will serve as an advisor, spokesperson and partner to develop and launch Chef Bruno locations nationwide. Each Chef Bruno location will offer an innovative Italian menu designed by Chef Bruno himself - featuring unique food concepts, such as his Pizza-On-A-Stick and Spatini Pizza, which have proved popular in his earlier ventures.

Chef Bruno also will have input on various staff and management issues, such as recruitment, training, supervision and quality control. He will assist the chain in franchise marketing and media relations, and will leverage his name and international acclaim to build the Chef Bruno brand.

"Chef Bruno will be integral in the development and growth of the Chef Bruno concept, and we also may tap his expertise from time to time to strengthen the other concepts in our portfolio," said Martin Mayer, vice president of operations at Tri-Star. "Tri-Star brings the infrastructure, industry contacts and business acumen; Chef Bruno brings a wealth of ideas, an internationally recognized brand name and virtual celebrity status in many of our targeted markets for expansion. We believe that by leveraging these collectively, we are positioning Chef Bruno for assured success."

The Chef Bruno chain intends to differentiate itself by offering a broad range of healthy menu items that cater to virtually every taste and are made only with fresh, natural ingredients. The Italian flavors and innovative food concepts are expected to attract a diverse customer base that will include families, people with active lifestyles, and younger audiences searching for alternatives to fried and unhealthy foods. Chef Bruno also plans to integrate child-friendly elements into the Chef Bruno concept to create an atmosphere that will be attractive to families with young children.

"Chef Bruno's timely service and reasonable pricing will cater to families, people on the go and anyone looking to make healthier food choices," said Chef Bruno. "I am very impressed with Tri-Star, its management team and the way they have positioned Chick-N-Grill so uniquely in today's highly competitive QSR marketplace. I am very excited about our new Chef Bruno concept and look forward to growing this franchise in a similar fashion for years to come."

Tri-Star anticipates that as many as 20 of the new Chef Bruno restaurant locations may be opened over the next five years.

Tri-Star's Chick -N- Grill restaurants will retain their own look and feel, as well as their signature menu of healthy slow-grilled and baked items, including the chain's famous wraps and Caribbean-style chicken dishes. Chick -N- Grill will continue to be branded independently of the new Chef Bruno chain.

About Chef Bruno

Chef Bruno brings nearly 50 years of foodservice experience to his new partnership with Tri-Star. He opened his first pizzeria at age 18 and has since opened nearly 40 additional restaurants across Europe, North America and South America. Over the years, he has been featured in various television commercials, on such shows as Martha Stewart Living, and in such popular magazines as Bon Appetit. He is a regular contributor to Pizza Marketing Quarterly, the leading publication for the pizza industry, and also has served as a corporate chef and chef to the stars. Currently, he is under contract with Media Max Entertainment Group for the production of a feature film entitled The Pizza King, which is set to debut in late 2006.

About Tri-Star

Tri-Star Systems is the parent company of Chick -N- Grill, the fastest-growing quick service chicken restaurant chain in the United States, and Gelato Caffe, the nation's premiere gelato franchise.

Also offering fast home delivery and catering services, Chick -N- Grill restaurants offer a relaxed and casual dining experience featuring fresh-made entrees that are never frozen and a focus on healthy, flavourful foods made only using the freshest market produce and ingredients. All chicken dishes are slow-grilled or baked, and new menu items include: churrasco steak, wraps and a wide variety of great desserts. For more information, please visit http://www.chick-n-grill.com.

Tracing its roots back to 1992, Gelato Caffe strives to become the first choice for high quality gelato products in the local marketplaces it serves. Gelato Caffe locations use only all-natural fruit, nuts, chocolates, milk and cream - not syrups - to create award-winning gelato products true to traditional Italian recipes that have endured over hundreds of years. For more information, please visit http://www.gelato-caffe.com.

For additional information on Tri-Star, franchise information or media interviews, please contact Liza Santana at [phone] or via email at: [e-mail].