Cosi, Inc. Names New Executive Chef

DEERFIELD, IL–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  Così, Inc. (NASDAQ: COSI), the premium convenience restaurant company, announced today that it has named Kimberly Letizia as its Director of Culinary Innovation & Menu Strategy.

“We’re thrilled to have someone with Kimberly’s unique experience and talent to lead Così’s effort to be innovative with freshly prepared, unique menu items for our breakfast, lunch and dinner day parts,” said James Hyatt, Così’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Così’s innovative menu has been recognized by Parents Magazine, Men’s Health Magazine and others and we believe Kimberly will contribute strongly to building on those achievements.”

Letizia most recently served as a Corporate Chef Consultant to Kraft Foods where she supported numerous national restaurant chains with menu development and consumer intelligence. During her career at Kraft, Letizia successfully linked marketing trends and consumer insights with restaurants’ core competencies to develop new menu concepts for several chains including McDonald’s, Subway, Marie Callender’s, Famous Dave’s, Great Harvest Bread Co., and others. 

Letizia, who earned her MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Marketing and BA in Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales University, has also worked for Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago and served as a Research Chef at Chef Services Group in Rhode Island.

“I am excited and look forward to supporting this already successful brand with new and innovative product offerings,” Letizia said.

About Cosi, Inc.
Così (http://www.getcosi.com) is a national premium convenience restaurant chain that has developed featured foods built around a secret, generations-old recipe for crackly crust flatbread. This artisan bread is freshly baked in front of customers throughout the day in open flame stone hearth ovens prominently located in each of the restaurants. Così’s warm and urbane atmosphere is geared towards its sophisticated, upscale, urban and suburban guests. There are currently 86 Company-owned and 57 franchised restaurants operating in eighteen states, the District of Columbia and the United Arab Emirates. The Così vision is to become America’s favorite premium convenience restaurant by providing customers authentic, innovative, savory food while remaining an affordable luxury.

The Così menu features Così sandwiches, freshly-tossed salads, melts, soups, Così bagels, flatbread pizzas, S’mores, snacks and other desserts, and a wide range of coffee and coffee-based drinks and other specialty beverages. Così restaurants are designed to be welcoming and comfortable with an eclectic environment. Così’s sights, sounds, and spaces create a tasteful, relaxed ambience that provides a fresh and new dining experience.

“Così” and “Così (& Sun & Moon design)” are registered trademarks of Così, Inc.
Copyright © 2010 Così, Inc. All rights reserved.