Buffets Inc. Relaunches As Ovation Brands

Buffets Inc. is marking its 30^th anniversary with a name change. The Greer, S.C., company—parent to Country Buffet, Fire Mountain, HomeTown Buffet, Old Country Buffet, Ryan’s and Tahoe Joe’s Famous Steakhouse—has changed its corporate name to Ovation Brands.

Ovation CEO Anthony Wedo said the new corporate moniker allows the company to properly showcase a greater breadth of brands. “This company is about reinventing the guest experience, whether in the buffet space, the polished casual concept or anywhere else we choose to expand.”

Earlier this year, the company launched the Main Street concept in the Denver market. All seven Country Buffet restaurants there were re-imaged with a contemporary food-court design and a scratch-made menu, which has led to double-digit sales increases. Ovation Brands operates 342 restaurants in 35 states.