UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
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Filed by the Registrant ⌧
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
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Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12
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RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required.
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined):
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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Total fee paid:
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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Amount Previously Paid:
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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Filing Party:
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Date Filed:
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The following material may be provided to stockholders of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (“Red Robin”).
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The Red Robin Transformation Is Already Underway Your Red Robin CEO and Board of Directors
are already taking decisive actions to position Red Robin for long-term success, including making meaningful changes to the Company’s leadership, governance and strategy. Our Strategy Is Designed to Deliver Value…...And Is Already Driving Results
Our strategy focuses on strengthening and transforming Red Robin’s dine-in business, growing off-premise sales channels and driving
excellence — all designed to create value for YOU: Recapture Our Soul & Brand Promise — Memorable Moments New Service Model, Menu Rationalization, Technology, Staffing/Retention Omni-Channel Marketing
Program Accelerate Profitable Growth —Grow off-Premise, Donatos, New Restaurants De-leveraging and Returning Capital to Shareholders
We are making measurable progress toward our goals, including: IMPROVED TOPLINE TRAJECTORY (Missing Graphic Reference) Q4 comparable restaurant revenues increased 1.3%; second consecutive quarter of positive
comparable restaurant revenue & fourth consecutive quarter of operating trend improvement $1.3BN 2019 revenues IMPROVED OPERATING METRICS (Missing Graphic Reference) 98%+ staffed and approaching or exceeding best-in-class turnover
Improvements in key performance indicators, including staffing, retention and ticket times IMPROVED GUEST METRICS (Missing Graphic Reference) Overall guest satisfaction scores are at an all time high Consistently rising guest ratings
for friendliness, taste of food, pace of experience, value and restaurant cleanliness
Our capital allocation priorities balance investments with returning capital to shareholders: Capital
will be invested prudently to advance strategic priorities, with at least half of remaining free cash flow being used to repay debt and return capital to shareholders via share repurchases
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Meet Your BoardYour New CEO and Newest Board Members...Paul J.B. Murphy IIIPRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND BOARD DIRECTORHighly accomplished restaurant executive with 20+ years of industry experienceStrong track record of executing
significant turnarounds to drive growth & profitabilityPreviously Executive Chairman of Noodles & Company; CEO of Del Taco RestaurantsDavid A. PaceBOARD CHAIR;MEMBER OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE30+ years of leadership experience in food
and beverage, retail & consumer products industriesStrong track record of driving significant margin and profit improvementsPreviously CEO of Jamba Juice; President of Carrabba’sItalian GrillG.J. Hart35 years of leadership experience in
food and beverage industryStrong track record of growing revenues & profitabilityCEO of Torchy’s Tacos; previously Executive Chairman & CEO of California Pizza Kitchen; President & CEO of Texas Roadhouse HoldingsTom
ConfortiFINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR; MEMBER OF AUDIT COMMITTEE30+ years of experience in financial, strategic & operational rolesDeep expertise in capital allocation & track record of driving total shareholder returnPreviously EVP &
CFO of Wyndham Worldwide; CFO of IHOP/DinequityAllison PageCo-Founder & President of SevenRooms, a data-driven operations, marketing and guest engagement platformSuccessfully enables restaurant & hospitality operators to deliver
exceptional guest experiences, streamline operations & drive repeat visits...Joining a Strong and Highly Qualified BoardCambria W. DunawayCHAIR OF NOMINATING AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE; MEMBER OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE20+ years of
leadership experience in marketing, digital strategy & advertisingChief Marketing Officer of Duolingo; previously Chief Marketing Officer for Yahoo!; U.S. President & Global Chief Marketing Officer of KidZania; EVP, NintendoGlenn B.
KaufmanMEMBER OF FINANCE COMMITTEE;MEMBER OF NOMINATING & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE20+ years of leadership experience in finance, budgeting, franchising & omni-channel marketingManaging Member of D Cubed Group, a private-market investment
firm; previously Managing Director at American Securities Capital PartnersStuart I. OranMEMBER OF AUDIT COMMITTEE;MEMBER OF NOMINATING & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE25+ years of leadership experience in finance, governance, strategic planning
and restaurant industryPartner at Liberty Hall Capital Partners, a private equity firm; previously Board Director at Wendy’s International; Cofounder of FCB Financial HoldingsKalen F. HolmesCHAIR OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE;MEMBER OF NOMINATING
AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE20+ years of leadership experience as a senior human resources executive in retail, technology & consumer products industriesPreviously EVP of Human Resources at Starbucks; held variety of leadership roles at
MicrosoftSteven K. LumpkinCHAIR OF AUDIT COMMITTEE; MEMBER OF FINANCE COMMITTEE30+ years of leadership experience in the management consulting, healthcare & restaurant industriesPrincipal at Rolling Hills Capital Partners; previously EVP,
CFO & Board Director at Applebee’s InternationalFOUNDED IN 1969, SEATTLE WA554 CASUAL DINING RESTAURANTS IN 44 STATESONE OF THE LARGEST LOYALTY PROGRAMS – 9MM SUBSCRIBERSTOP-5 CASUAL DINING BRAND IN 2019*
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About Red Robin Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through
its wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., and under the trade name Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews, is the Gourmet Burger Authority™, famous for serving more than two dozen craveable, high-quality burgers
with Bottomless Steak Fries® in a fun environment welcoming to Guests of all ages. Whether a family dining with kids, adults grabbing a drink at the bar, or teens enjoying a meal, Red Robin offers an unparalleled experience for
its Guests. In addition to its many burger offerings, Red Robin serves a wide variety of salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts, and signature beverages. Red Robin offers a variety of options behind the bar, including its extensive
selection of local and regional beers, and innovative adult beer shakes and cocktails, earning the restaurant a VIBE Vista Award for Best Beer Program in a Multi-Unit Chain Restaurant. There are more than 560 Red Robin restaurants across
the United States and Canada, including locations operating under franchise agreements. Red Robin… YUMMM®! Connect with Red Robin on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Forward-Looking Statements Forward-looking statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are
based on assumptions believed by the Company to be reasonable and speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events or
circumstances arising after such date, and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those described in the statements based on a number of factors, including but not limited to the following: the effectiveness of the Company’s strategic initiatives, including the effectiveness of the Company’s
affordability, service improvement, technology, and off-site initiatives to drive traffic and sales; the ability to increase labor productivity through alternative labor models, and to train the Company's workforce for service execution
complexities related to growth of multiple revenue streams in the restaurant; and other risk factors described from time to time in the Company’s Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports) filed
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Solicitation of Proxies Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (“Red
Robin”) intends to file a proxy statement and WHITE proxy card with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with its solicitation of proxies for its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2020 Annual
Meeting”). RED ROBIN STOCKHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT (AND ANY AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ACCOMPANYING WHITE PROXY CARD WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION. Stockholders may obtain the proxy statement, any amendments or supplements to the proxy statement and other documents as and when filed by Red Robin with the SEC without charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Certain Information Regarding Participants Red Robin, its directors and certain of its executive officers may be deemed to be participants in connection with the solicitation of proxies from Red Robin’s stockholders in connection with the matters to be
considered at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Information regarding the ownership of Red Robin’s directors and executive officers in Red Robin common shares is included in their SEC filings on Forms 3, 4, and 5, which can be found through the
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Information can also be found in Red Robin’s other SEC filings.
More detailed and updated information regarding the identity of potential participants, and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the proxy statement and other materials to be filed
with the SEC. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
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About Red Robin
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., and under the trade name Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and
Brews, is the Gourmet Burger Authority™, famous for serving more than two dozen craveable, high-quality burgers with Bottomless Steak Fries® in a fun environment welcoming to Guests of all ages. Whether a family dining with kids, adults grabbing a drink at the bar, or teens enjoying a meal, Red Robin offers an unparalleled
experience for its Guests. In addition to its many burger offerings, Red Robin serves a wide variety of salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts, and signature beverages. Red Robin offers a variety of options behind the bar, including its
extensive selection of local and regional beers, and innovative adult beer shakes and cocktails, earning the restaurant a VIBE Vista Award for Best Beer Program in a Multi-Unit Chain Restaurant. There are more than 560 Red Robin restaurants across
the United States and Canada, including locations operating under franchise agreements. Red Robin… YUMMM®! Connect with Red Robin on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Solicitation of Proxies
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (“Red
Robin”) intends to file a proxy statement and WHITE proxy card with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with its solicitation of proxies for its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2020 Annual Meeting”). RED
ROBIN STOCKHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT (AND ANY AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ACCOMPANYING WHITE PROXY CARD WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Stockholders may
obtain the proxy statement, any amendments or supplements to the proxy statement and other documents as and when filed by Red Robin with the SEC without charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Certain Information Regarding Participants
Red Robin, its directors and certain of its executive officers may be deemed to
be participants in connection with the solicitation of proxies from Red Robin’s stockholders in connection with the matters to be considered at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Information regarding the ownership of Red Robin’s directors and executive
officers in Red Robin common shares is included in their SEC filings on Forms 3, 4, and 5, which can be found through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Information can also be found in Red Robin’s other SEC filings. More detailed and updated information regarding the identity of potential participants, and their direct
or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the proxy statement and other materials to be filed with the SEC. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on assumptions
believed by the Company to be reasonable and speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after such
date, and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the statements
based on a number of factors, including but not limited to the following: the effectiveness of the Company’s strategic initiatives, including the effectiveness of the Company’s affordability, service improvement, technology, and off-site initiatives to
drive traffic and sales; the ability to increase labor productivity through alternative labor models, and to train the Company's workforce for service execution complexities related to growth of multiple revenue streams in the restaurant; and other
risk factors described from time to time in the Company’s Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
