Media Contact: Beth Floyd
bethfloyd@zoeskitchen.com

7/21/2003 - 2003 Top 40 Under 40

IN DEPTH: 2003 TOP 40 UNDER 40: THE 19TH ANNUAL CLASS OF YOUNG BUSINESS LEADERS

John Cassimus, president, Zoe's Kitchen USA Inc.
Forgive Zoe Cassimus for being biased. John Cassimus is not only spearheading the national growth of her Homewood-based restaurant chain, Zoe's Kitchen USA Inc., but the 36-year-old is, after all, her son.

Cassimus has worn many hats in his career - Crimson Tide football player, securities seller and entrepreneur.  Since acquiring the rights to his mother's restaurant in 1999, he has added six locations, one each in downtown Birmingham, The Summit, Riverchase Galleria, Tuscaloosa, and two locations in Nashville, Tenn. In the coming year, Zoe's Kitchen will expand to Destin, Fla.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Phoenix. Cassimus says the chain could expand by 50 stores in the next five years through corporate growth or franchises. It also could move from private ownership to a publicly traded company in that time, he adds.

"I'm extremely proud of John and the way he has handled this whole thing, growing the company so fast," Zoe Cassimus says. "From playing football and other business ventures he's had, he's always focused and has a plan."

At the urging of her family, Zoe Cassimus opened her first kitchen in 1995. She knew the restaurant business well: Her father (for whom her son is named) owned and operated John's Restaurant in downtown Birmingham. After playing football for the University of Alabama, John the younger took a job selling securities with Pittman Financial Partners and exceeded sales records, according to Kasey Burleson of the Kason Group LLC in Birmingham. Burleson, who is Cassimus' CPA, nominated him for the Top 40 Under 40 award. In 1993, Cassimus opened his own business, J-Rag, a supplier of screen-printed apparel. He printed T-shirts, jackets, hats and other attire for several bicycle manufacturers and other sports-related businesses. He sold J-Rag in 1996 and went to work as a sales executive for Atlanta's Compensation Management Associates, an insurance consulting firm.

In 1998, the entrepreneurial spirit led Cassimus to open a record label, Big Air Records, with one artist - Greta Gaines, who is now on tour with Sheryl Crow. Although he retained an ownership in Big Air, Cassimus left the music business behind for Zoe's Kitchen.

Cassimus, who recently obtained a pilot's license, calls the quick-serve casual concept of Zoe's Kitchen the wave of the future. Under his leadership, Zoe's regularly donates food to organizations that support the homeless, and he has set up a program with the University of Alabama to teach students about operating a business.

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