BIG BANANA OPENS UP: Apparently Elvis Wasn't The Only Fan

Would you like a deep fried, peanut butter covered... BANANA with your latte?

No, me either.

But none the less, a new franchise kid on the block "The Fat Banana" has critics sitting up and taking notice. After some initial success with small kiosk stores, they are duplicating themselves, and hope to gain some franchisees...

The Fat Banana Set to Become the New Franchise Fast Food Success Story of the 21st Century

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fat Banana, a division of ICaptivate, Inc., a leader in branded mobile content, mobile advertising and promotions announced today that the company has created and run successfully 2 mobile units in Thailand and is bringing the success to America. This innovative and widely popular mobile fast casual restaurant concept has captured the minds and stomachs of the Thai people are now set to launch to potential franchisees from around the globe. The company offers the lowest entry into fast food franchising anywhere through its brand as you go concept, go anywhere mobile kiosks, a delicious everything banana food menu as well as the coolest branded merchandise ever offered in store.

The Fat Banana is based on a successful kiosk program in Thailand where food and the mobile kiosk is King. The Fat Banana, like many fast food concepts that have had similar successes in the past, brings a one-food source to the name and menu. Past success stories include Starbucks Coffee, Honey Baked Ham, Planet Smoothie, Einstein's Bagels and Hawaiian Chicken to name a few.

The new concept is the brainchild behind Gary German's long list of success'. The Fat Banana is a one-stop shop for everything Banana. It has a small menu and doesn't confuse customers. The restaurant arouses the senses from the street with the fresh baked Banana breads and Batter Fried Banana's. It's colorful -- yellow with many opportunities to promote and to have fun with and to be heavily involved in the community.

The Fat Banana offers it franchisees low food cost, a fresh and consistent menu and ample ways for cross promotion and marketing opportunities that includes the company's mascot -- a singing and dancing wisecracking persona called "The Funky Monkey". The Company has put together one of the most innovative cross promotion and advertising concepts in the market today where vendors participate with coop moneys for marketing and awareness. This is where little or no money comes out of the pocket of the franchises for building the brand and the awareness. Its stays in the operation budget where it belongs leading to more of a success at longevity. The Menu is simple and fun and wonderfully tasty and easy for employees to dish out.

    The Low Cost Mouth Watering Menu

   The Worlds Largest In Store Banana Split - large enough for 8 people
   The Banana Rama -- Fried Coconut Banana's basked in Carmel Brittle with
    Banana Ice Cream
   The Elvis-Fried Banana and Peanut Butter Sandwiches
   The Big Dipper-Dipping Fried Bananas into Hot Chocolate, Hot Carmel and
    Hot Marshmallow Sauce
   Wild Banana Hazelnut and coconut cold and hot Coffee Drinks
   ICCEE Banana Milk Shakes and Smoothies
   Soaked in butter Hot Banana Nutmeg Bread by the loaf
   Colonel Bill's Southern Banana Wafer Pudding
   THE FAT BANANA homemade Ice Cream
   The worlds largest 64 oz Banana Chocolate Shake

Total cost of a Fat Banana License is only $35,000 for the first 500 locations then you ad $50,000 for the equipment and mobile kiosk. With a low royalty percent rate of 4.5%, getting into the market is easy and cost effective.

"The Fat Banana is one of the gems that come around every ten years or so and has the potential to be as big as Starbucks, on just about every corner of the globe," said Buddy Nicholas, a potential Investor in TFB.

"I am very pleased with the tremendous response we are getting for The Fat Banana in the US, this reminds me of the excitement generated around Stupid PC another one of my successful ventures back in 1997, we want to boast high calories here and we are not afraid to do so," said Gary German, Founder, The Fat Banana. "Even though the Banana is one of the most nutritional fruits on the planet," added German

About The Fat Banana

Founded in 2004, Hollywood based ICaptivate currently consists of three concepts: one fast casual focused dining establishment, A high end brand called Happy Time and its mobile promotion unit. The company's fast-casual concept includes The Fat Banana, a winner of Nation's Restaurant News 2006 Hot Concepts, Award in Thailand. ICaptivate Brands portfolio expects to open more than 12,000 locations globally by 2008. For additional information, visit www.thefatbanana.com. (URL is currently in process, will be available within 2 weeks.)

     Contact:
    Peter Kahalani, TFB PR Director
    805-559-2295 pkahalani@yahoo.com
    http://www.thefatbanana.com
    mailto:ggerman213@yahoo.com"
    ggerman@icaptivate.com

SOURCE The Fat Banana