San Francisco only has a handful of restaurant PR firms, and one of the big guns on the local scene, Rivera Public Relations, has recently been bought by Wagstaff Worldwide, a national player with a substantial cadre of Bay Area restaurant clients. Brothers Jared and Steve Rivera founded Rivera Public Relations in 2005, and went on to represent many great restaurant and "hospitality" products like Beretta, Saison and Dom Perignon. The main reason they're selling their business—for an "undisclosed amount," mind you—is to concentrate on their other business, Chefs Feed. The chef-powered smartphone app was created by the brothers in 2011 and is now gearing up to launch in seven more cities, plus London.
The acquisition will certainly bolster the growth of Wagstaff, which now has restaurant clients and offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Aspen and San Francisco, and the Michelin-starred Manresa in Los Gatos. Wagstaff also represents The Absinthe Group's restaurants, a little state called South Australia, and Chipotle.
As the transition is made, the Rivera brothers will collaborate on marketing and creative strategies for several accounts, including the forthcoming, to-be-named Mamacita Mexican restaurant spinoff headed to Cole Valley. "I'll stay involved as long as they let me give my two cents," said Rivera. "My heart is in San Francisco and I love being able to still contribute even a little imprint on this industry."
Meanwhile, the Rivera name will live on as a wine label. Rivera says they're planning to release the family vineyard's bold Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, a.k.a. "The Stash," for public consumption later this year.
The official press release follows:
Wagstaff Worldwide to Acquire Rivera Public Relations Effective Immediately
Wagstaff Worldwide announces the immediate acquisition of hospitality PR firm, Rivera Public Relations. The company, founded by brothers Jared and Steve Rivera, has represented hundreds of lifestyle, consumer products, and hospitality clients such as Dom Perignon, Park Tavern, Beretta, Saison, and more since 2005. The Riveras will focus their attention on their newest venture, Chefs Feed, the first and only chef-powered restaurant application for Smartphones, which launched in 2011.
“After careful consideration, we selected Wagstaff Worldwide as our partner in this acquisition,” says Co-Founder Jared Rivera. “The company’s reputation in the hospitality arena, including five offices with more than 70 employees, their traditional and social media approach to PR campaigns, and their established creative services department, was a natural fit.”
Wagstaff Worldwide’s clients in the Bay Area include Lark Creek Restaurant Group, Manresa, and the InterContinental San Francisco, among others. Nationally and internationally, Wagstaff Worldwide represents The Patina Restaurant Group, State of South Australia, and Chipotle. “We are very excited and honored that Rivera Public Relations chose Wagstaff Worldwide for this partnership,” says President Mary Wagstaff. “We have long admired the work that the Riveras have done in the Bay Area and very much look forward to this new relationship, strengthening our reach locally and beyond.” In addition to the public relations partnership, Wagstaff Worldwide will also take on Rivera’s weekly newsletter, offering clients, associates, and food lovers a roundup of the most notable restaurant reviews across all four of its offices.
Wagstaff Worldwide
Wagstaff Worldwide is a full-service public relations firm that specializes in working with clients in all areas of the hospitality industry—from restaurants and food products to travel and tourism destinations, as well as premium wines and spirits. Founded in 1999 by Mary Wagstaff, the company has grown over the last decade to include offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. www.wagstaffworldwide.com
Chefs Feed
Chefs Feed is the first and only chef-powered restaurant guide. Want to know where Mario Batali gets his carnitas taco fix? Where Wolfgang Puck and Thomas Keller go for sushi? Where Charles Phan can be found eating Chinese at 3 a.m.? Chefs Feed has the answers. Available in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, Seattle, Washington DC and Austin, this dynamic new app gets you access to the nation’s top chefs and their locals-only dining secrets. The result is thousands of dish recommendations from restaurants across the country, absolutely free. www.chefsfeed.com
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