The roots of the Runza® Sandwich – a mixture of ground beef, cabbage, onion, and special spices baked inside homemade bread – stretch all the way back to 18th century Russia. In 1763, Germans who were invited to settle in the Volga region of Russia by Czarina Catherine the Great, developed the unique sandwich known as a bierock. A century later, many of the Germans immigrated to America due to a change in Russian leadership. Among those German-Russian immigrants was the Brening Family, who brought the bierock recipe with them to a farm near Sutton, Nebraska.

Sarah “Sally” Everett and her brother, Alex Brening, founded the company in 1949 and opened the first location with a $500 investment. In 1966, Sally’s son, Donald Everett, purchased the rights to the Runza® Sandwich, federally trademarked the name, and opened his first Runza® Restaurant. Ten years later, the first three franchise stores were opened. As the chain slowly expanded, Don ensured quality was never compromised for the sake of growth.

Today, Runza® has expanded into a chain of 79 quick-serve restaurants in Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, and Iowa. Runza® Sandwiches continue to be made the old-fashioned way – from the original recipe handed down by Don’s grandmother. It remains a family business, with Don Everett’s three children (Sally’s grandchildren) overseeing all operations.

Donald Everett, Jr., President, stated, “My grandmother was a pioneer in the restaurant business. She quickly developed a reputation for quality food and service. It was on this strong foundation that the chain of Runza® Restaurants was built. Sixty years is a long time for a family business to operate, and we have Sally to thank for instituting high standards from the very beginning. She knew the key to success was to provide honest value through superior food and service. With this as the company’s mission statement, we look forward to serving the unique Runza® Sandwich and other quality menu items for another sixty years.”

Runza® Restaurants possess a genuine commitment to maintain the high quality products that helped launch their popularity over 60 years ago.

Runza®…The difference is real.

CORPORATE FACTS

MISSION STATEMENT: Runza® Restaurants strive to serve superior quality food and provide exceptional service in a clean, comfortable setting.

PRODUCT: Runza® Sandwich – a German recipe featuring a unique blend of fresh ground beef, cabbage, onions, and spices baked inside homemade bread.

FOUNDED: 1949

INCORPORATED: 1966

YEAR BEGAN FRANCHISING: 1979

NUMBER OF UNITS:

44 Associate, 35 Independent

79 Total Units

ANNUAL SALES: $60,000,000 in 2009

CHARITABLE PURSUITS:

• Literacy and learning related endeavors
• American Cancer Society
• Elementary school partnerships
• Youth sports programs

LEADERSHIP:

• Donald Everett, Jr., President
• Renee Everett Sjulin, Vice President
• Dawn Everett Amend, Secretary
• Kerry Amend, Treasurer
• Linda Dennis, Director of Store Operations
• Jill Stutzman, Director of Human Resources
• Becky Perrett, Director of Marketing

LOCATIONS:

• 75 units in Nebraska
• 2 units in Colorado
• 1 unit in Iowa
• 1 unit in Kansas

Directory of Locations

• Nebraska – 75 Locations
• Holdrege
• Kearney – 2
• Lincoln – 16
• McCook
• Nebraska City
• Norfolk – 2
• North Platte – 2
• Ogallala
• Omaha – 20
• Scottsbluff – 2
• Seward
• Sidney
• St. Paul
• Wahoo
• Waverly
• Wayne
• York – 2
• Albion
• Aurora
• Beatrice
• Bennington
• Blair
• Broken Bow
• Columbus
• Cozad
• Crete
• David City
• Fairbury
• Falls City
• Fremont – 2
• Gering
• Gothenburg
• Grand Island – 2
• Hastings – 3
• Colorado – 2 Locations
• Fort Collins
• Loveland
• Kansas – 1 Location
• Lawrence
• Iowa – 1 Location
• Council Bluffs