Yum Inc., was founded by culinary entrepreneur and investor James E. Griffin and photographer Ron Manville in 1992. A chapter S – corporation founded in the State of Rhode Island, Yum Inc. predated and was not affiliated with Yum Brands in any way. The company operated from 1992 – 2004 providing culinary media and foods ervice consulting services with an emphasis on food related advertising and marketing media for food manufacturers, marketing and advertising agencies, foodservice operators, and publishers.
From the very first project in 1992, Yum Inc. experienced rapid sales growth and the company was profitable from its first year onwards – growing every year and always operating at a substantial profit. The company won two national awards from the American Culinary Federation as Best Media Agency and two cookbooks produced by Yum won Tobasco Community Cookbook Awards.
For more than a decade the company provided product development and innovation services, produced media including food photography and step-by-step product guides, provided on-air talent for national and local broadcast media, and foodservice related operational consulting including restaurant development services.
Digital and traditional format output included retail and quick service point of purchase media (backlit and trans-view menu boards and LTO media and signage), cookbooks, print advertising, editorial media, posters, menus, brochures, product packaging design, trade show booth images and digital media.
Within five years of launch the company had over 100 clients (more than 50 are listed below) across multiple sectors and channels.
Global Companies
- The Walt Disney Co.
- The Braun division of Gillette Co.
- The Norwegian Seafood Export Council
- Proctor & Gamble
Marketing Firms and Agencies
- Ingalls, Quinn, and Johnson – Boston, MA
- Robert Marston & Associates – New York, N.Y.
- Leonard, Monahan & Lubars – Providence, R.I.
- Holt, Hughes & Stamell – Portland, ME
- Noble & Associates – Chicago, IL
- Morris Nathanson Design – Pawtucket, R.I.
- Firebrand – Providence, R.I.
National Organizations
- Johnson & Wales University – College of Culinary Arts
- The American Lamb Council
- National Restaurant Association
- The National Fisheries Institute
- The American Culinary Federation
- California Raisin Board
- The U.S. Culinary Olympic Team
- Rhode Island Convention and Visitors Bureau
Food Manufacturing
- Cain’s Foods
- Kraft Foods
- TransOcean Products
- Slade Gorton & Co., Inc.
- Rich SeaPak Corp
- Marlees Seafood
- Gem Seafood
- Venda Ravioli
Editorial
- Restaurants USA
- Chef Magazine
- The National Culinary Review
- Rhode Island Monthly Magazine
- Seafood Business Magazine
- Nation’s Restaurant News
- Restaurants Institutions Magazine
- Food Management Magazine
- Restaurant Hospitality Magazine
- Weight Watchers Magazine
- Providence Journal Co., Rhode Islander Magazine
Cookbook Publishing
- Chef John Folse & Company
- Favorite Recipes Press
- American Cancer Society
- John Wiley & Sons
- Ten Speed Press
- Johnson & Wales University
Restaurants, Food Service, Media
- Bugaboo Creek Restaurants – National
- Chelo’s Restaurant – Providence, R.I.
- Bess Eaton Restaurants – Coventry, R.I.
- The Capital Grille – National
- East Side Mario’s Restaurant – New England
- The Tokyo American Club – Tokyo, Japan
- NBC’s The Today Show – New York, NY
- The Gourmet Bagel & Pizza Co. – Brooklyn, NY
- Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino – Atlantic City, N.J.
- Sid Wainer & Sons Produce – New Bedford, MA
- Star Market/Shaw’s Supermarkets – New England
- Shores Supermarkets – Rhode Island
- Tony’s Colonial Foods – Rhode Island
- Cherry & Webb Co., Inc. – New England
Back Story – Ron Manville and Jim Griffin decided to form a food media and consulting agency in 1998 after collaborating on production of The Sea Fare Inn Cookbook. Griffin served as a lead assistant on the production of this book while working as a cook for Chef George Karousos – owner of the Sea Fare Inn in Portsmouth Rhode Island. Two years later Griffin arranged for Manville to work with the U.S. Culinary Olympic Team Northeast when he earned a spot on the team. Yum was launched shortly after. After Yum closed up shop for good in 2004 Manville went on to produce over 20 cookbooks and continues to be a leading food photographer operating out of Nashville Tennessee with national and international clients. Griffin is now a food manufacturing entrepreneur and consultant. Griffin and Manville remain the best of friends.