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Andrew Cherng

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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 Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. [2] His father is Ming-Tsai Cherng, a chef. In 1963, his family moved to Yokohama, Japan, where his father had taken a job as a chef. [3] In 1966, at age 18, he immigrated to the United States.[4] 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. [5][6] 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.[7] The company expanded to 100 restaurants by 1993 with the opening of a UCLA outlet.[6]

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.[6]

In 2008, Cherng (age 61) was listed in Forbes' Twenty-Five Notable Chinese-Americans. [8] Since 2010, he is a member of the Committee of 100, an international, non-profit, non-partisan membership organization that brings a Chinese American perspective to issues concerning Asian Americans and U.S.-China relations. [9] Cherng is a member of the Fremont College's Program Advisory Committee. [10]

References

  1. ^ http://www.pandarg.com/About/
  2. ^ http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/05/smallbusiness/panda-express-chinese-food.fortune/index.html
  3. ^ http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/a_passion_for_panda/10272/
  4. ^ http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/a_passion_for_panda/10272/
  5. ^ http://www.pandaexpress.com/company/#!/story/story-1983
  6. ^ a b c Krantz, Matt. "Panda Express spreads Chinese food across USA". USA Today.
  7. ^ Hirsch, Jerry. "Profile | Andrew Cherng, Panda Express founder". Los Angeles Times.
  8. ^ http://www.forbes.com/global/2008/0915/054a.html
  9. ^ http://committee100.org/aboutus/aboutus-members.php
  10. ^ http://www.fremont.edu/advisors/andrew-cherng/


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