June 10, 2014

To the Editor:

Your article on Best and Worst Franchises is hard to take seriously, most obviously
because you relied solely on sterile data and made no attempt to engage in a productive
dialogue with the brands or any actual franchisees.

In our case, Bennigan's Franchising Company is the organization that, for the last six
years, has pulled the brand out of the abyss of Chapter 7; not put it in. We are on an
extraordinary comeback trail and it is insulting to our corporate team and franchisees to
see our iconic brand misplaced in your franchise rankings.

Having reviewed the methodology followed by FRANdata to arrive at its dubious
conclusions, I have to say I am extremely disappointed. We all know that numbers can be
manipulated to say whatever you want them to say, but how can you ignore the fact that
your 2008-2012 time frame essentially compares two entirely different companies?

The previous owners of Bennigan's took the company into Chapter 7 in mid-2008, closing
more than 200 restaurants literally overnight. Since I took the helm of the "new"
Bennigan's in 2011, we have steadily rebuilt our domestic and international network to the
point that we are once again one of the very best franchise operations in our industry.

Here's a fact that makes a mockery of Forbes' rankings: Bennigan's Franchising Company
has signed franchise commitments that will double the size of our system (to well over
150 restaurants) within the next few years!

Contrary to the arbitrary snapshot in time you surveyed, the new Bennigan's is
experiencing the very definition of sustained growth and continuity. We are transparent
(did you even bother to read our current FDD?). And, we are once again lender-friendly.

If anyone bothered to speak with any of our franchisees, it would become immediately
obvious that your data is not supported in the real world and you would have heard a very
different story than that portrayed in your article. These exceptional men and women are
an integral part of the dramatic renaissance of the Bennigans brand, and the vast majority
are experiencing great success. Dozens more are in the process of joining them, from coast
to coast and around the world. We take the investment of their hard-earned money very
seriously and work hard to deliver compelling returns on that investment.

Our franchisees are galvanized by our positive and open communication, world-class
support, collective and participative leadership and a keen focus on continuously
improving our marketing, operations, supply chain, menu, unit economics and
profitability.

With all due respect, you have done our franchisees and our brand a severe injustice. The
Bennigans of 2014 arguably belongs among Americas 10 Best Franchising Brands. We
await your apology and retraction.



Paul M. Mangiamele CFE
President & Chief Executive Officer
Bennigans Franchising Company