Shari’s Wins Oregon Governor’s Sustainability Award

The Oregon Sustainability Board and Business Oregon will honor Shari’s Restaurant Group for their commitment to sustainable business practices at the Northwest Environmental Conference & Tradeshow on December 10th.

Shari’s was recognized for their commitment to developing restaurant-wide programs to reduce waste, decrease energy and water consumption.

Bruce MacDiarmid, Shari’s CEO & President, states that Shari’s has increased its commitment to environmental responsibility over the years.  “Since 2008 we have reduced our total electricity usage by 6%, gas usage by 7% and water consumption by 19%”, he said.  “But it’s not just about saving dollars.”  MacDiarmid continued, “It’s about being a good corporate citizen in the communities we serve.  Our guests in the northwest expect businesses to be environmentally conscious.  And we’ve been on the leading edge of those expectations.”  In addition, Shari’s purchases coffee beans from the Rainforest Alliance Certified Farms and recycles and converts cooking oil into biodiesel fuel.

“I’d like to commend these businesses for their efforts to keep Oregon at the forefront of the national movement  towards sustainability,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown, who is the chair of the Sustainability Board.

In 2006, then Governor Ted Kulongoski issued an Executive Order directing the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (now known as Business Oregon) to establish an awards program to promote and advance the use of sustainable practices in government and the private sector.

Shari’s is the largest full-service restaurant chain based in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1978 and operated by Shari’s Management Corporation of Beaverton, Oregon, Shari’s Restaurants are designed to provide high quality, reasonably-priced meals 24 -hours a day in a comfortable surrounding. Shari’s menu features a full selection of breakfasts, salads, sandwiches, hamburgers, dinner entrees, desserts and a large selection of specialty pies. With over 4,00 employees, the chain currently has 98 locations throughout Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Nebraska and Wyoming.

Contact:  Michael Kiriazis
Vice President of Marketing
503-605-4151
mkiriazis@54.187.183.174