Joe's Crab Shack Announces New Employee Ownership Plan At Annual Conference

HOUSTON, Feb. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Joe's Crab Shack and its parent company Ignite Restaurant Group recognized three outstanding team members and outlined the company's first employee ownership plan during its annual conference in Las Vegas this month.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140220/AQ68303)

Ignite CEO Ray Blanchette unveiled the new ownership plan, called "I LEAD," or the Ignite Long-Term Equity Asset Distribution plan. The plan gives restaurant management ownership in the company through restricted stock awarded on a progressive five-year plan.

"The I LEAD program is an extension of our culture, which is truly a team environment," said Joe's Crab Shack President Jim Mazany. "Now, our management team members are also owners of the company, which instills pride and allows the team to benefit financially from their commitment and hard work."

Mazany also recognized outstanding achievements by three Joe's Crab Shack team members.

• Mike Wright - Director of the Year. A 27-year veteran of the restaurant industry, Wright has been with Joe's for four years and oversees operations for the Midwest region.
• Jerry Gallegos - General Manager of the Year. Gallegos was also promoted to Director of Operations as a result of his strong leadership.
• Christine King - awarded the annual PRIDE Award, given to the team member who best exemplifies the brand's pillars of PRIDE – Passion, Respect, Integrity, Determination and Excellence. King is the general manager of Joe's Crab Shack in Amherst, N.Y.

"Each of these outstanding team members not only exceeded goals for operations and sales, they acted with respect, integrity and matchless determination," said Mazany.

More than 500 team members were present to congratulate their peers. With the theme of "Uniting Brands, Igniting Leaders," this was the first conference held to involve all three Ignite brands, which also include Romano's Macaroni Grill and Brick House Tavern + Tap.

About Joe's Crab Shack
Founded in Houston, Texas, in 1991, Joe's Crab Shack is quickly becoming everyone's favorite seafood restaurant, with locations in more than 30 states. Joe's serves up fun times and serious seafood, with more than 25 crab items on the menu in addition to fish, lobster, mussels, clams and shrimp. Part of Ignite Restaurant Group's (Nasdaq: IRG) portfolio of restaurants, Joe's is a national partner in Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry^® Campaign, a national effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. For more information, go to www.joescrabshack.com/media_center.php.

About Ignite Restaurant Group
Ignite Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:IRG) owns and operates nearly 350 restaurants throughout the U.S. Headquartered in Houston, Ignite's portfolio of restaurant concepts includes Joe's Crab Shack, Romano's Macaroni Grill and Brick House Tavern + Tap. Each brand offers a variety of high-quality, chef-inspired food and beverages in a distinctive, casual, high-energy atmosphere. The company is also a franchiser for Macaroni Grill in locations in the U.S., U.S. territories and internationally. For more information on Ignite and its distinctive brands visit www.igniterestaurantgroup.com.

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Tracy Henderson or Georgia Mason
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SOURCE Joe's Crab Shack