Continue to Site >>>

Ex-CEO sues Intelligentsia for a share of Peet’s deal profits

By Restaurant Business Staff on Nov. 20, 2015
peets coffee tea

The former CEO of Intelligentsia Coffee has filed a lawsuit against the cafe company, alleging he’s entitled to a cut of the company’s majority stake being purchased by Peet’s Coffee & Tea, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Robert Buono, who served as co-CEO of Intelligentsia from 2010 to 2014, is seeking $15 million. His lawsuit claims that company co-founders Doug Zell and Emily Mange had promised him a portion of future profits, the Tribune reports.

Terms of the Peet’s deal have not been officially disclosed. 

Read the full story via the Chicago Tribune.
 

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Lettuce Entertain You shares new initiatives, Eggs Up Grill makes menu moves, and the dish on pizza styles and Brooklyn food

Menu trends at RLC, how a St. Louis chef is elevating sushi, and hot sauces and LTOs in the spotlight

An inside look at the James Beard Awards, McAlister's menu expansion and creamsicle drinks

So long Menu Feed, welcome to Menu Talk

The Latest

Financing

Shake Shack steps up marketing to keep customers from fleeing to cheaper options

Financing

Wendy's hopes better store profitability will yield new unit growth

Workforce

Tomorrow's aspiring industry leaders strut their stuff at ProStart's national competition

Listen to your daily news: RB PodcastsNew episodes weekdays
RB Daily
A Deeper Dive
Menu Talk
Restaurant Rewind
Working Lunch

Related

Peet’s acquires majority stake in Intelligentsia

Peet’s acquiring Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Exclusive Content

Financing

For Starbucks, 2 years of change hasn't yielded promised results

The Bottom Line: The coffee shop giant’s sales struggles worsened earlier this year, despite a flurry of efforts to improve operations and employee satisfaction.

Food

Nando's Americanizes its menu a bit as U.S. expansion continues

Behind the Menu: Favorites like mac and cheese, bowls and salads join the fast casual’s Afro-Portuguese-rooted dishes, including the signature peri-peri chicken.

Financing

The consumer is cutting back, but not everywhere

The Bottom Line: Early earnings from major restaurant chains suggest the consumer has taken a distinct turn for the worse so far in 2024.

Trending

Financing

Shake Shack steps up marketing to keep customers from fleeing to cheaper options

Financing

Wendy's hopes better store profitability will yield new unit growth

Workforce

Tomorrow's aspiring industry leaders strut their stuff at ProStart's national competition

More from our partners

How restaurants can set themselves apart as banquet venues

How to use the plus-one strategy to build unique LTOs

How restaurants can make margin improvements that improve the bottom line

Ensuring Food Safety: How Better Equipment Helps

Investing in beverage programs without maxing labor: Why innovative products matter more than ever