LSI Industries Awarded as Top-10 Supplier to Wendy's Restaurants

CINCINNATI, Dec. 07, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LSI Industries Inc. (NASDAQ:LYTS) today announced that Quality Supply Chain Co-op, Inc.^SM (QSCC), the independent purchasing cooperative for restaurants owned by The Wendy’s Company^® and its franchisees, recently honored LSI Industries as one of its top 10 suppliers and distributors.

The Golden Link Award for Supply Chain Excellence is QSCC’s highest honor for its supplier and distributor partners.  Winners were chosen from more than 430 companies in three categories: food & beverages, building materials & equipment, and distribution.  “LSI Industries has supplied lighting products to the Wendy’s system since 1991, and they completed LED exterior lighting conversions for more than 430 Wendy’s restaurants,” said QSCC President John Inwright.  “Each year, the new LED lighting reduces energy costs by more than $550,000 and reduces electricity use by more than 6 million kWh – which is enough to power about 500 average-sized U.S. homes for a year.”

“LSI Industries consistently demonstrates outstanding dedication, innovation, commitment, and service to QSCC and the Wendy’s system,” Mr. Inwright added.  “Partners who win the Golden Link Award are truly in a class above the rest, and they always look for new ways to reduce costs and increase value for our members.”

Dennis Wells, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "On behalf of all employees at LSI Industries, I am honored to accept this prestigious award as a top-10 supplier to Wendy's restaurants.  We have enjoyed a long relationship with the Wendy's team, and we look forward to continuing to deliver high-quality products and exceptional service to meet their evolving needs." 

About QSCC

Based in Dublin, Ohio, Quality Supply Chain Co-op, Inc. (QSCC) is an independent, not-for-profit purchasing cooperative that is jointly owned by its members (The Wendy’s Company and its U.S. franchisees).  QSCC provides purchasing and distribution of food and other products and services for all Wendy’s restaurants in North America.  With more than $3 billion in annual spend, QSCC is the second-largest foodservice purchasing cooperative in North America.  For more information, visit wqscc.com. 

About The Wendy’s Company

Based in Dublin, Ohio, The Wendy's Company is the world's third-largest quick-service hamburger company.  The Wendy's system includes more than 6,500 franchise and Company-operated restaurants in the United States and 27 countries and U.S. territories worldwide.  For more information, visit aboutwendys.com or wendys.com.

About LSI Industries

We are a customer-centric company that positions itself as a value-added, trusted partner in developing superior image solutions through our world-class lighting, graphics, and technology capabilities.  Our core strategy of "Lighting + Graphics + Technology = Complete Image Solutions" differentiates us from our competitors.

We are committed to advancing solid-state LED technology to make affordable, high performance, energy-efficient lighting and custom graphic products that bring value to our customers.  We have a vast offering of innovative solutions for virtually any lighting or graphics application.  In addition, we provide sophisticated lighting and energy management control solutions to help customers manage their energy performance.  Further, we provide a full range of design support, engineering, installation and project management services to our customers. 

We are a vertically integrated U.S.-based manufacturer concentrating on serving customers in North America and Latin America.  Our major markets include commercial / industrial lighting, petroleum / convenience store and multi-site retail (including automobile dealerships, restaurants and national retail accounts).  Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, LSI has facilities in Ohio, Kansas, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island and Texas.  The Company’s common shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol LYTS. 

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This document contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous assumptions, risks or uncertainties.  The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “estimates,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should” or the negative versions of those words and similar expressions, and by the context in which they are used.  Such statements, whether expressed or implied, are based upon current expectations of the Company and speak only as of the date made.  Actual results could differ materially from those contained in or implied by such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of risks and uncertainties over which the Company may have no control.  These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact of competitive products and services, product demand and market acceptance risks, potential costs associated with litigation and regulatory compliance, reliance on key customers, financial difficulties experienced by customers, the cyclical and seasonal nature of our business, the adequacy of reserves and allowances for doubtful accounts, fluctuations in operating results or costs whether as a result of uncertainties inherent in tax and accounting matters or otherwise, unexpected difficulties in integrating acquired businesses, the ability to retain key employees of acquired businesses, unfavorable economic and market conditions, the results of asset impairment assessments, the Company’s ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, our ability to remediate any material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and any other risk factors that are identified herein.  You are cautioned to not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.  In addition to the factors described in this paragraph, the risk factors identified in our Form 10-K and other filings the Company may make with the SEC constitute risks and uncertainties that may affect the financial performance of the Company and are incorporated herein by reference.  The Company does not undertake and hereby disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

For further information, contact Dennis Wells, Chief Executive Officer and President, at (513) 793-3200.

Additional note:    Today’s news release, along with past releases from LSI Industries, is available on the Company’s internet site at www.lsi-industries.com or by email or fax, by calling the Investor Relations Department at (513) 793-3200.

DENNIS W. WELLS
(513) 793-3200