Clarity Announces Digital Menuboard Rapid Adoption Program and Initial Project with Dunkin' Donuts.

Business Editors

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 2000

Quick-serve restaurants (QSRs) are among the leaders in recognizing the significant business-building value of digital menuboards.

To capitalize on this recognition, Clarity Visual Systems has launched a program--that includes aggressive packaging, expert services and easy to manage software--to enable QSRs as well as other business-to-consumer enterprises to implement digital menuboards in a quick and cost-effective manner.

At the leading food service technology exposition, FS/TEC 2000, underway this week in Long Beach, Clarity is launching its Digital Menuboard Rapid Adoption Program. It is also announcing that Allied Domecq, parent of Dunkin' Donuts, Baskin Robbins and Togo's, is the first to participate in the new program, and has initiated a pilot test of digital menuboard technology at one of its largest QSR outlets, the flagship Dunkin' Donuts store in Siam Square, Bangkok. The Siam Square facility is the first to work with Clarity's new Solutions Group, which has been formed to help customers in all aspects of digital menuboard deployment. A similar effort is planned at a Baskins-Robbins outlet in the UK very shortly.

"The Allied Domecq-Dunkin' Donuts project continues the industry's drive to digital menuboard technology in the QSR arena, and its potential for dynamic, digital messaging in many other retail markets," said Dan Cole, vice president of sales and marketing for Clarity. "At the same time, the Siam Square project illustrates the requirement for complete solutions, particularly in rapidly emerging technologies. Even with a company as sophisticated and diverse as Allied Domecq, the vendor must be equipped to directly assist in the project from start to finish. We believe our Solutions Group sets the standard for this key customer support."

Cole said the Solutions Group encompasses Clarity's home office and field-based representatives as well as specialists from its strategic partners. Capabilities of the group range from customer installation needs analysis and requirements definition, to hardware, software and communications integration, content development, custom programming, physical installation and 24x7 support.

"Our founder and CEO, Paul Gulick, who has been one of the chief architects of applying digital technology to retail messaging, determined that the time has come for a manufacturing leader to assemble enough of the pieces required to deliver a complete solution. In combination with our strategic partners, we have begun this initiative to enable this waiting market application to come to full realization."

Allied Domecq's commitment to Clarity came as a result of this proactive approach, which utilizes Clarity Leopard (VN3820) displays, Clarity's Digital Media Controller featuring its highly acclaimed SignSuite content management software, and the systems integration provided by the Clarity Solutions Group. "We were interested in applying digital messaging to our retail environments. Clarity came with a plan and complete solution that made it work for us. The displays and SignSuite are very high-quality products. When deployed with digital content, these systems will further enhance the Dunkin' Donuts store environment," said Bob Kendzior, vice president, marketing and retailing concepts for the International Division of Allied Domecq. "This is a clear example of the potential of technology innovation, coupled with the services needed to make this a very attractive proposition for our organizations."

"Our Rapid Adoption Program, with its total solutions concept, represents an industry breakthrough," said Clarity's Cole. "We believe this will accelerate the adoption of digital menuboard technology in QSR and other markets, and give Clarity an even stronger position in digital messaging for retail."

Clarity Visual Systems, Inc. has taken the industry lead in providing visual messaging solutions that allow commercial and consumer businesses, government organizations and a wide range of other enterprises to inform, educate and entertain their customers, constituents and audiences. Clarity's solutions, which reflect close working relationships with a select group of strategic partners, address the spectrum of customer needs, from hardware and software integration, to messaging content development, to system installation, support and service.

Established in 1995, the company is a provider to many of the world's leading organizations, including General Motors Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, SAP Technologies, U.S. Postal Service, Australian Stock Exchange and others. Clarity is headquartered in Wilsonville, Oregon and employs more than 60 people. For additional information, please call 503/570-0700 or go to: http://www.clarityvisual.com