Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles

Year founded: 1976

Core business: Chain of restaurants

Top executive: Herb Hudson

Sales in 1992: $2.5 million

Sales in 1996: $5 million

Employees in 1976: 10

Employees in 1997: 120

Goal: To become an industry leader in casual dining.

Driving force: Pride. “Our slogan is, ‘What a difference pride makes.'”