Andrew Cherng
Andrew Cherng (pronounced: Chur-ng) is an American entrepreneur. He is the current founder and chairman of the board of Panda Restaurant Group, Inc based in Rosemead, CA. [1] He is perhaps best known for being the co-founder and chief executive officer of Panda Express.
Cherng was born in Jiangsu, China and immigrated to the United States via Taiwan in 1966.[2] Along with his father Ming Tsai Cherng, they started a sit down Chinese fast-food restaurant called Panda Inn in Pasadena, California using funds from the family and a Small Business Administration loan. In 1983, Cherng opened Panda Express, a fast food restaurant, at the newly opened Glendale Galleria II mall in Glendale, CA. [3][4] He had been prompted to start the spin off by the developer of the mall who had eaten at Panda Inn and invited Cherng to take a place at the food court.[5] The company expanded to 100 restaurants by 1993 with the opening of a UCLA outlet.[4]
The chain has become one the biggest Chinese American family owned fast food chains in the United States. Cherng has stated a preference for keeping the company closely held. However, he told USA Today if the company could get a valuation close to that of Chipotle Mexican Grill, he could reconsider his stance.[4]
In 2008, Cherng (age 61) was listed in Forbes' Twenty-Five Notable Chinese-Americans. [6]
Cherng is a member of the Fremont College's Program Advisory Committee. [7]
References
- ^ http://www.pandarg.com/About/
- ^ http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2010/12/positive_thinking
- ^ http://www.pandaexpress.com/company/#!/story/story-1983
- ^ a b c Krantz, Matt. "Panda Express spreads Chinese food across USA". USA Today.
- ^ Hirsch, Jerry. "Profile | Andrew Cherng, Panda Express founder". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ http://www.forbes.com/global/2008/0915/054a.html
- ^ http://www.fremont.edu/advisors/andrew-cherng/