Panda Express | Orange chicken and attention to detail, including discarded gum on the sidewalks
One of AndrewsGumWorld’s favorite you-can-find-almost-anywhere Chinese restaurants in Panda Express, which had its roots nearly four decades ago when Andrew Cherng opened his first Chinese restaurant in Pasadena.
The company itself started 25 years ago, and now has more than $1.2 billion in revenue, according to a report in today’s Contra Costa Times (Gum Guy’s favorite newspaper in fifth grade).
It’s an empire built on orange chicken (you know what we mean if you’ve eaten there) and besides the chicken, Cherng promotes a customer service approach based on three principles: “Be proactive, be respectful and do a job well.”
The 61-year-old Cherng remains actively involved in his company’s operation, as the article reports on his recent lunch at an Azusa, California outpost of his store:
Even though his company has grown far beyond his expectations, Cherng still manages with an eye for detail. While visiting the new Panda Express in Azusa on a recent Friday, Cherng scraped chewing gum off the sidewalk.
Associates say he looks askance at anyone wasting napkins and utensils. He interviews every job applicant at the company’s headquarters, whether the person is applying for a clerical post or to become chief financial officer.