The Keg Steakhouse & Bar Named one of 50 Best Employers in Canada

Vancouver, January 7, 2004 -- For the second year in a row, The Keg Steakhouse & Bar has been named as one of the “50 Best Employers in Canada”, according to a recent study published in Report on Business Magazine’s January issue. The annual survey is conducted by R.O.B. Magazine and international consulting firm Hewitt Associates. 

This ranking comes on the heels of another prestigious award for Keg Restaurants Ltd. In December, it was named Restaurant Company of the Year at the industry’s Pinnacle Awards. 

“We are extremely pleased to again be recognized as one of the best companies to work for in Canada,” said David Aisenstat, The Keg’s President & CEO. “A key reason for The Keg’s success is the quality of its employees. We hire the best, we empower them with expertise through superlative training programs, we let them be themselves, and most of all we love to present them with opportunities to grow both professionally and personally.” 

The "50 Best Employers in Canada" survey is employee-driven, with 70 per cent of the scoring based upon how randomly selected employees respond to an anonymous survey designed to measure the quality of workplace culture. The remainder of the score is based on an in-depth analysis of company culture and human resources practices and a leadership team survey for top executives. “The Best Employers in Canada are all remarkable firms,” said Hewitt consultant, Jean Douglas. 

Vancouver-based Keg Restaurants Ltd. is the leading operator and franchisor of steakhouse restaurants in Canada and has a substantial presence in regional markets in the United States. In May 2002, Keg Restaurants Ltd. launched The Keg Royalties Income Fund on the Toronto Stock Exchange. This publicly traded trust (KEG.UN-TSX) owns The Keg trademarks and receives a royalty payment equal to four percent of gross sales of all restaurants in the royalty pool, which it pays out to unitholders as a monthly distribution.

For more information please contact: 
Karyn Byrne 
Manager, Marketing Communications 
Keg Restaurants Ltd. 
Tel: 416-646-4960 
karynb@kegrestaurants.com