Mimi's Cafe Names Matthew Kimble Vice President of Human Resources.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Russ Bendel, President and CEO of Mimi's Cafe, today announced the appointment of Matthew Kimble to Vice President of Human Resources. Kimble will oversee employee performance and recruitment for the Mimi's Cafe team, as well as employee relations and leadership development training within the company. Mimi's Cafe, the nation's leading comfort food specialist, is a restaurant collection known for its generously proportioned, soul soothing and delicious entrees and sides. Today the company operates 103 restaurant locations in 17 states and has an aggressive expansion program planned.

"We are pleased to welcome Matthew Kimble to the Mimi's Cafe team," said Bendel in making the announcement. "For over 15 years, Kimble has had significant success directing diverse teams of employees, spearheading innovative employee programs, as well as developing a systematic approach to succession planning. He's a natural leader and a perfect fit for this role. We look forward to his contributions as he assumes these new responsibilities that are critical to our ongoing success as a company."

Prior to joining Mimi's Cafe, Kimble served as Vice President of Human Resources for Diedrich Coffee for nine years where he oversaw employment and employee benefits, training and development. Kimble was named Employee of the Year by the Gloria Jean's Gourmet Coffee franchisees, a subsidiary of Diedrich Coffee, Inc. and the largest mall-based retailer of specialty coffees in North America.

Previously, Kimble served as Human Resources Manager and Employment Manager for Thrifty and Payless Drug Stores respectively, where he was responsible for providing strategic and tactical direction, optimizing group synergies and leveraging partnership opportunities to ensure quality of work environment and development of successful management programs and policies.

"Mimi's Cafe has a philosophy of truly caring for their team members and treating them as part of the family," said Kimble. "Not only am I excited to be a part of that team myself, but I look forward to working collaboratively with Mimi's executive team in continuing to develop the stellar culture and policies that have attracted talented employees to the organization, enabling Mimi's to realize its growth objectives."

Originally from the Seattle area, Kimble holds a Degree in Business Administration from Olympic College. Kimble currently resides in Irvine, Calif.

Acclaimed by restaurant critics and consumers alike, Mimi's Cafe is known and loved for its menu of high-quality, eclectic cuisine, unparalleled service and tastefully appointed decor. Each Mimi's Cafe draws an average of a 1,000 guests daily and typically operates at capacity for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Signature items include large, fresh muffins made daily, homemade soups, chicken pot pie, quiches, fresh salads, pastas, slow-cooked pot roast, citrus salmon, fresh roasted turkey, top sirloin and center cut pork chops, as well as an assortment of tantalizing breakfast items such as the 5 Alarm Santa Fe Omelette, Pain Perdu Breakfast and Blue Crab Benedict.

Mimi's interiors feature lively, colorful New Orleans-inspired design touches and are designed to be both comfortable and welcoming. The restaurants average nearly 6,800 square feet and seat more than 225 guests in three dining areas. Currently, Mimi's Cafe operates in California, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Mimi's Cafe was acquired in 2004 by Bob Evans Farms Inc., which is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol BOBE, and employs a workforce of 9,000 people company-wide. Visit Mimi's Cafe virtually at www.mimiscafe.com.