BUSINESS BRIEFS
Local Taco Bell franchise grows
Advertiser Staff
The local franchise operator of Taco Bell and Pizza Hut restaurants announced that it has bought six Taco Bell restaurants on Guam, bringing to 92 the number of restaurants owned by TD Food Group Inc. in Hawai'i, Guam and Saipan.
TD Food has been expanding since it was formed by the California-based private investment firm Brentwood Associates to purchase 85 restaurants from the owner of Theo H. Davies & Co. Ltd. in late 2004.
Previously, TD Food's Guam business included five Pizza Hut restaurants. Two of the Guam Taco Bell restaurants are co-branded as Long John Silver's restaurants.
ISLAND AIR ADDS 'CLOUD 9' PLAN
Island Air yesterday announced a new frequent-flier program for customers called "Cloud 9."
Under the program, passengers who complete nine roundtrips or 18 one-way trips in the Islands will get a free roundtrip ticket. This is Island Air's first self-owned frequent-flier program since the commuter airline was sold by Aloha Airgroup Inc. two years ago.
STARTUP BACKERS EXPAND TO KONA
UH Angels, a Honolulu-based investor group that has helped pump nearly $10 million into local startups, said it will launch a Big Island chapter July 20.
The group of executives, entrepreneurs and other professionals will host monthly presentations by technology companies in search of financing.
Founded in Honolulu in 2002, UH Angels in April opened a Maui chapter. So far, the group has invested $9.25 million in 25 companies including Hawaii Biotech, Hoku Scientific, Hoana Medical and the Hawaii Superferry.
Kainalu-based physician Drew Ross is the organizer for the new Kona-Kohala chapter of UH Angels.
