Promotion of Deena McKinley to CXO, Hire of VP of Technology & Automation Kevin Bentley to Enhance Guest Journey at the Heart of Papa Gino’s, D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches
Dedham, MA (RestaurantNews.com) New England Authentic Eats, LLC, parent company of iconic hometown brands Papa Gino’s and D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches, is creating a seamless guest experience – online and in-person – and has engaged two senior restaurant industry executives to lead the charge. Deena McKinley, who has served as NEAE’s Chief Marketing Officer since 2019, has been promoted to the new position of Chief Experience Officer. Kevin Bentley, who has an extensive technology and management background in the restaurant industry, has joined the company as Vice President of Technology & Automation.
“Our core menu items – like Papa Gino’s pizza and D’Angelo’s classic Steak & Cheese – have been fan favorites for generations of New Englanders who have grown up with them. While our recipes and quality of ingredients haven’t changed, the way guests interact with our brands has shifted dramatically during the past two years,” said NEAE President and CEO Tom Sterrett. “Recognizing the importance of Deena and Kevin’s positions aligns with our plans for growth as we build the Papa Gino’s and D’Angelo of the future to exceed guest expectations for service, selection and speed. I look forward to working with both of them to accomplish that vision.”
During the pandemic, McKinley quickly immersed the company in best practices for guest communication around digital ordering, third-party delivery platforms, contactless carryout and in-restaurant ordering, while revamping the brands’ presence across channels. Since joining the company as CMO, McKinley has elevated the visibility of Papa Gino’s and D’Angelo through numerous initiatives – an ongoing food delivery program to community heroes; personalized guest journeys through digital marketing; growth of social platforms and use of influencers to increase following and engagement; community programs and large-scale giveaways to solidify positioning as neighborhood staples; and a successful campaign to celebrate a milestone 60th birthday for Papa Gino’s.
“It’s been an incredible journey with these two iconic brands since 2019. I’m continuously motivated by the love of our guests and commitment of our team members,” said McKinley. “We’ve quietly accomplished a lot, and now, with Kevin onboard, we can accelerate our plans for a modernized Papa Gino’s and D’Angelo that reaches our guests where they are, meeting their expectations for consistency, quality, speed and accessibility in our digital world. I couldn’t be more excited about partnering with Kevin to advance our company’s connection with our guests.”
Prior to joining NEAE, McKinley served as Chief Experience Officer at Mobivity, a customer engagement marketing platform, working with national multi-unit restaurant companies such as Subway, Jamba Juice and Dairy Queen. Previously, she was Chief Client Officer at Zimmerman Advertising, working with restaurant clients such as Papa John’s Pizza, Boston Market and Firehouse Subs.
In his new role, Bentley will lead NEAE’s technology team and work closely with McKinley to optimize restaurant, company and guest experiences through digital automation and innovation, from back office to data analytics, mobile ordering, website, and loyalty. He will partner with McKinley to define and execute on the vision for a seamless guest experience to drive performance, profitability, and efficiency.
“This is an ideal opportunity for me to bring my years of technology, innovation, automation and analytics experience, as well as my entrepreneurial mindset to this growing company,” said Bentley. “I was excited about coming to New England Authentic Eats because of the enthusiasm of the guests – on a level I’ve never seen before – and the enthusiasm of the team. I’m looking forward to partnering with Tom, Deena and everyone at the company to help drive us to the next level.”
McKinley and Bentley’s first joint effort was the selection of its new digital operating system, Lunchbox. As NEAE’s latest digital strategic partner, Lunchbox will be a key in developing a website and app that represents NEAE’s mission to build a frictionless guest experience and enhanced digital journey, offering innovative and accessible ordering solutions. Lunchbox is an innovative restaurant technology company building a centralized digital ordering solution to allow brands to build and enhance its customer database. Lunchbox’s technology is helping enterprise restaurant chains simplify and centralize their digital tech stack, and NEAE is excited to be building on this scalable foundation.
Before joining NEAE, Bentley served as director of automation technology and innovation at Inspire Brands (whose brands include Dunkin’, Baskin Robbins, Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Jimmy John’s, Rusty Taco, and Sonic Drive-In), where he leveraged data and consumer-facing and backend technology platforms to support everything from ordering to operations, driving profitability and a streamlined customer experience.
Bentley began his career as a professional football player after being drafted by the Cleveland Browns, where he was voted 2002 Team Rookie of the Year for exceptional performance. He played for a few other teams and reached the pinnacle of the sport, making it to the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. He was known as a fierce competitor and leader, achieving the honor of being voted team captain by his peers. Kevin had an amazing 10-year run before retiring from the league in 2012.
After leaving the NFL, he earned an MBA from Rice University and a Master of Information Systems from Northwestern University. He was recognized as the number one MBA candidate in the country in 2015 by Poets & Quants. Bentley brings over 20 years of leadership, technology, and marketing experience, holding prior positions at Tropical Smoothie, Infosys, Owens Corning, and Arby’s, where he rolled out PAR-POS to over 1100 corporate restaurants and oversaw the franchise business for two years.
Bentley is a devoted husband to his wife, Christina, and proud father of four daughters (Kennedy, Kayden, Kendal, and Kaylani) and a son (Kevin Jr). He has certifications as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, a Scrum Master, and is a PSIA-AASI Certified Level 3 Snowboard Instructor working with Olympic athletes.
About Papa Gino’s
Founded in 1961, Papa Gino’s Pizzeria is a proud New England staple with a heritage of serving high quality, handmade pizzas with fresh ingredients and an over 80-year-old Italian family recipe. From a single restaurant in East Boston, Papa Gino’s has expanded to nearly 100 restaurants in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. Follow Papa Gino’s on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
About D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches
Celebrating its 55th year in business, D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches is a chain of 83 neighborhood-style sandwich shops found throughout New England in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Founded in 1967 in Dedham, MA, D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches serves various kinds of Grilled, Hot and Deli Sandwiches, Rice & Grain Bowls, Lobster Rolls and Sandwiches, Grilled Topped Salads, Wraps and Hot Soups. Famous for its Steak & Cheese Sandwiches, the company’s grilled sandwich Number 9® was called “the finest fast-food sandwich in the land” in a Bloomberg News column. Follow D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
View source version at New England Authentic Eats
Ann Arbor, MI (RestaurantNews.com) Domino’s Pizza, Inc. (NYSE: DPZ), the largest pizza company in the world, has announced the promotions of Joe Jordan to the role of President, U.S. & Global Services and Art D’Elia to the role of Executive Vice President – International, effective May 1, 2022. Jordan and D’Elia will both report to Russell Weiner, current Chief Operating Officer and President – Domino’s U.S. and incoming Domino’s CEO (effective May 1, 2022.)
“Joe and Art are extremely talented executives who have 15 years of Domino’s experience between the two of them,” said Mr. Weiner. “They are well known and respected by our team members and franchisees around the world. Each are incredible leaders whose insights, expertise and values embody what makes Domino’s such a special place to work. I am excited for them and for the Company.”
As President, U.S. & Global Services, Jordan will be responsible for leading the Company’s U.S. business and key global centers of excellence. He most recently served as Executive Vice President – International of Domino’s since April 2018, after serving as Senior Vice President – Chief Marketing Officer of Domino’s from May 2015 to April 2018. Prior to joining Domino’s, Jordan worked for six years at PepsiCo North America, where he served as the senior director of marketing. Jordan holds an MBA from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the College of William and Mary.
As Executive Vice President – International, D’Elia will be responsible for overseeing the Domino’s business in more than 90 countries around the world. D’Elia most recently served as Executive Vice President – Chief Marketing Officer of Domino’s since July 2020. He joined Domino’s in January 2018 as Senior Vice President – Chief Brand & Innovation Officer. Prior to Domino’s, D’Elia served as chief marketing officer for Danone Dairy’s business unit which serviced the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg. D’Elia holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan.
About Domino’s Pizza®
Founded in 1960, Domino’s Pizza is the largest pizza company in the world, with a significant business in both delivery and carryout pizza. It ranks among the world’s top public restaurant brands with a global enterprise of more than 18,800 stores in over 90 markets. Domino’s had global retail sales of nearly $17.8 billion in 2021, with over $8.6 billion in the U.S. and over $9.1 billion internationally. In the fourth quarter of 2021, Domino’s had global retail sales of over $5.5 billion, with over $2.6 billion in the U.S. and nearly $2.9 billion internationally. Its system is comprised of independent franchise owners who accounted for 98% of Domino’s stores as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2021. Emphasis on technology innovation helped Domino’s achieve more than half of all global retail sales in 2021 from digital channels. In the U.S., Domino’s generated more than 75% of U.S. retail sales in 2021 via digital channels and has developed several innovative ordering platforms, including those for Google Home, Facebook Messenger, Apple Watch, Amazon Echo, Twitter and more. In 2019, Domino’s announced a partnership with Nuro to further its exploration and testing of autonomous pizza delivery. In mid-2020, Domino’s launched a new way to order contactless carryout nationwide – via Domino’s Carside Delivery®, which customers can choose when placing a prepaid online order.
View source version at Domino’s
ATLANTA, March 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Focus Brands®, parent company of iconic brands including Auntie Anne’s®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Jamba®, McAlister’s Deli®, Moe’s Southwest Grill® and Schlotzsky’s®, announced today the appointment of Tory Bartlett as Chief Brand Officer for Moe’s Southwest Grill. Bartlett has been with Focus Brands for three years, most recently serving as Chief Brand Officer for Schlotzsky’s.
“Tory’s impressive leadership with Schlotzsky’s has helped propel the brand forward,” said Joe Guith, Restaurant Category President, Focus Brands. “Moe’s Southwest Grill has incredible potential to continue to grow and evolve, and with Tory’s operations-centric mindset and proven track record for successful brand management, we are excited about what’s next for the brand.”
During his tenure as Schlotzsky’s Chief Brand Officer, Bartlett introduced two new prototypes as well as overhauled the menu to streamline operations and maximize kitchen efficiency. The brand also had a record number of new deal signings in 2021, adding an additional 124 restaurants to the pipeline. Bartlett brings over 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry having worked in leadership roles at Tin Lizzy’s and Hooters prior to joining Focus Brands.
About Focus Brands
Atlanta-based Focus Brands is a leading developer of global multi-channel foodservice brands. Focus Brands, through its affiliate brands, is the franchisor and operator of more than 6,000 restaurants, cafes, ice cream shoppes, and bakeries in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and over 50 foreign countries under the brand names Auntie Anne’s®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Jamba®, Moe’s Southwest Grill®, McAlister’s Deli®, and Schlotzsky’s®, as well as Seattle’s Best Coffee® on certain military bases and in certain international markets. Please visit www.focusbrands.com to learn more.
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Ritch Allison to Retire; Will Continue Serving as CEO Through April 30, 2022
Board Appoints Russell Weiner, Current COO and President Domino’s U.S., as Successor
Sandeep Reddy Named Chief Financial Officer Effective April 1, 2022
Ann Arbor, MI (RestaurantNews.com) Domino’s Pizza, Inc. (NYSE: DPZ) today announced that Ritch Allison has informed the Board of Directors of his intention to retire from the Company. Mr. Allison will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer through April 30, 2022 and will remain on the Domino’s Board of Directors until the Company’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 26, 2022. The Board has appointed Russell Weiner, Domino’s Chief Operating Officer and President – Domino’s U.S., to succeed Mr. Allison as the Company’s next CEO, effective May 1, 2022. Mr. Weiner will stand for election to the Board at the upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Mr. Allison will continue to provide his guidance and expertise to the Company in an advisory capacity until he retires from Domino’s on July 15, 2022. In connection with today’s announcement, David A. Brandon will transition from Chairman of the Board to the newly established position of Executive Chairman, effective May 1, 2022.
Mr. Weiner has served as Chief Operating Officer and President – Domino’s U.S. since July 2020. In this role, Mr. Weiner has overseen the U.S. business for Domino’s, as well as the global centers of excellence teams responsible for marketing, operations, store growth and development, franchise relations, analytics and insights and e-commerce. Since joining Domino’s as Executive Vice President – Chief Marketing Officer in 2008, he has been integral to driving results in the U.S. During Mr. Weiner’s tenure, the Company’s annual U.S. retail sales have grown from approximately $3 billion to more than $8 billion. In addition, digital mix has grown from 11.5% of U.S. sales to more than 75%, U.S. store count has grown over 25% and Domino’s U.S. market share of QSR pizza has more than doubled. Mr. Weiner also led the Company’s Pizza Turnaround campaign, central to the success of the Domino’s brand.
Mr. Allison said, “Serving at Domino’s for more than a decade, including the last four years as CEO, has been the privilege of a lifetime. During that time, we and our franchises have achieved tremendous growth and today the Domino’s brand is as strong as ever. While there is much that I will remember fondly, I am most proud of the culture that ties us all together – the “sauce in our veins” that makes Domino’s so special. Domino’s has the best franchisees in the world and I am grateful for them, along with our incredible store managers, and team members. With Russell as CEO and with the addition of Sandeep as CFO, supported by the rest of our leadership team, I am comfortable and confident stepping aside, knowing that Domino’s has strong leaders who are passionate and committed to our business. I look forward to watching the Company continue to grow under their guidance.”
Mr. Brandon commented, “We are fortunate to have a talented and experienced leader like Russell to move into the CEO role. Russell’s strategic and operational capabilities have been demonstrated consistently over his many years of service to our company. He has played a pivotal leadership role in driving innovation and transforming many aspects of the Domino’s brand during his tenure, including reinventing Domino’s menu and advertising. He has a passion for our brand and company and a vision for our continued expansion and success worldwide. As we enter a new phase of growth for the Company, we believe Russell’s energy, inspirational leadership style and earned respect of our Team Members and Franchisees make him the right choice to take Domino’s forward.”
Mr. Brandon added, “On behalf of the Board and the Company, I want to thank Ritch for his many contributions to Domino’s. Ritch’s dedication to the Company is second to none, and throughout his tenure as CEO, he has been a force for positive change in all aspects of the organization. This includes opening approximately 4,000 new stores, expanding the brand to over 90 global markets, and increasing global retail sales by over $5 billion. Domino’s is well positioned as we enter this next phase of growth. We appreciate Ritch’s continued involvement as an advisor as we ensure a smooth transition.”
Mr. Weiner said, “I am honored to lead this great company and brand that I love. Domino’s became the #1 pizza company in the world through a relentless focus on our customers and every aspect of their pizza experience. That focus is as strong as ever and I am excited to work with our talented leaders, team members and franchisees to deliver the next phase of Domino’s growth. I thank Ritch for his leadership and collaboration and look forward to working with him to ensure a seamless transition.”
In addition, the Company announced that Sandeep Reddy has been appointed as Domino’s next Chief Financial Officer, effective April 1, 2022.
As CFO of Six Flags, Mr. Reddy led the company’s emergence from the pandemic with strong financial results in 2021 and also served as a strategic thought partner to the CEO and the leadership team in strategy development. Prior to that, as CFO of Guess?, Inc., Mr. Reddy, along with the management team, led a turnaround of financial results with strong improvement in revenue, profitability, and shareholder value.
Mr. Brandon concluded, “Sandeep is a proven executive who brings nearly three decades of global leadership experience in consumer facing businesses. His financial acumen and expertise in operations, strategy, technology and management make him a natural choice to serve as our next CFO. Ritch and Russell partnered well together in the recruitment and selection of Sandeep, and together with the Board, we are confident that Sandeep will be integral in helping Russell and the rest of the Leadership Team drive continued growth and success for Domino’s into the future.”
Mr. Reddy said, “I have had the privilege of working with many great brands over my career and I am thrilled with this opportunity to now work with what I believe is a truly iconic global brand with enormous growth potential. With the strong financial foundation and talented leadership team already in place at Domino’s, I am confident in the Company’s prospects for continued value creation and look forward to partnering with Russell and the Leadership Team as we chart our roadmap for the journey ahead.”
About Russell Weiner
Russell Weiner has served as Chief Operating Officer and President – Domino’s U.S. since July 2020. Mr. Weiner was first named to the newly-created position of Chief Operating Officer and President of the Americas in July 2018. Prior to becoming Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Weiner served as president of Domino’s USA from October 2014 to July 2018, after joining the company as Executive Vice President – Chief Marketing Officer in 2008. Since joining Domino’s as Executive Vice President – Chief Marketing Officer in 2008, he has been integral to driving results in the U.S. During Mr. Weiner’s tenure, the Company’s U.S. retail sales have grown from approximately $3 billion to more than $8 billion. In addition, digital mix has grown from 11.5% of U.S. sales to more than 75%, U.S. store count has grown over 25% and Domino’s U.S. market share of QSR Pizza has more than doubled. Weiner also led the creation of the “pizza theater” store design, the development of a new logo for the brand and oversaw the creation of the DXP pizza delivery vehicle.
Prior to joining Domino’s in 2008, Mr. Weiner led the marketing for Pepsi’s North American cola business. Mr. Weiner also serves on the board of directors of The Clorox Co. Mr. Weiner earned a Bachelor of Arts in government from Cornell University, and an MBA in marketing and international business from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
About Sandeep Reddy
Sandeep Reddy currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Six Flags. Prior to that, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Guess?, Inc., a contemporary clothing and accessories retailer, from July 2013 through December 2019. Before that, he served as Vice President and European Chief Financial Officer of Guess, where he was responsible for all aspects of Guess’ European finance functions, including financial planning, treasury, accounting, and tax from 2010 to 2013. From 1997 to 2010, Mr. Reddy served in a number of positions of increasing responsibility for Mattel Inc., a leading global toy manufacturer, ultimately serving as Vice President Finance and Supply Chain for the SEUR (France, Spain, Portugal, Italy) cluster. Mr. Reddy has a BA (Honors) in Economics from Delhi University and an M.B.A. from Cornell University.
About Domino’s Pizza®
Founded in 1960, Domino’s Pizza is the largest pizza company in the world, with a significant business in both delivery and carryout pizza. It ranks among the world’s top public restaurant brands with a global enterprise of more than 18,800 stores in over 90 markets. Domino’s had global retail sales of nearly $17.8 billion in 2021, with over $8.6 billion in the U.S. and over $9.1 billion internationally. In the fourth quarter of 2021, Domino’s had global retail sales of over $5.5 billion, with over $2.6 billion in the U.S. and nearly $2.9 billion internationally. Its system is comprised of independent franchise owners who accounted for 98% of Domino’s stores as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2021. Emphasis on technology innovation helped Domino’s achieve more than half of all global retail sales in 2021 from digital channels. In the U.S., Domino’s generated more than 75% of U.S. retail sales in 2021 via digital channels and has developed several innovative ordering platforms, including those for Google Home, Facebook Messenger, Apple Watch, Amazon Echo, Twitter and more. In 2019, Domino’s announced a partnership with Nuro to further its exploration and testing of autonomous pizza delivery. In mid-2020, Domino’s launched a new way to order contactless carryout nationwide – via Domino’s Carside Delivery®, which customers can choose when placing a prepaid online order.
View source version at Domino’s
Casual-dining Franchise Appoints 18-year Company Loyalist to Sustain the Brand’s Accelerated Growth
Winston-Salem, NC (RestaurantNews.com) East Coast Wings + Grill, a full-service casual-dining franchise that spotlights Buffalo wings and fresh crafted burgers, has promoted 18-year company loyalist Whitney Mann to Executive Vice President of Operations.
Mann first joined East Coast Wings + Grill in 2004 as a server at one of its restaurants. Shortly after her career began, her leadership traits and tenacity were recognized, and she was named General Manager of the King, NC location in 2007. With an eagerness for learning the corporate side of operations, she joined the corporate team as a part-time administrative assistant in 2008. Since joining the corporate team, she has been promoted to Corporate Training Coordinator, Unit Level Systems Analyst, Brand Field Consultant, Director of Functional Analytics and finally VP of Field Operations before settling into her newly-appointed role.
“Having done every job at the restaurant level and by gaining additional experience at corporate, I have a unique perspective that has helped me provide strong operational guidance across the organization. I know the day-to-day challenges franchisees and their employees face on the front-lines,” said Mann. “Since my career began with East Coast Wings + Grill 18 years ago, I’ve been focused on going the extra mile – whether it’s for customers, fellow employees or franchisees. I look forward to continuing that approach in my new role and look forward to continued success with this amazing brand.”
In this new role, Mann will focus on sustaining brand growth that has been achieved after a record-breaking 2021. Her primary objective will be ensuring franchisees and their teams maintain brand compliance, while also closely watching marketing and social media trends to ensure the brand remains an industry leader in offering best-in-class technologies and resources.
“During her long tenure with our brand, much of Whitney’s achievements can be tied to her entrepreneurial spirit and relentless pursuit of providing the highest level of customer service across all the stakeholders in our organization,” said East Cast Wings + Grill CEO, Sam Ballas. “She is truly the embodiment of our corporate mantra, ‘Never Be Satisfied.’ I’m confident our brand will continue to grow under her operational watch.”
For more information about East Coast Wings + Grill franchising opportunities, visit www.eastcoastwingsfranchise.com.
About East Coast Wings + Grill
East Coast Wings + Grill is a full-service, casual-dining franchise that spotlights Buffalo wings and fresh crafted burgers. The thoughtfully-crafted menu also offers a variety of other options to satisfy every family member’s taste buds. With more than 60-nationwide locations currently operating or in various stages of development, the franchise recently secured a top spot on Restaurant Business Magazine’s “Future 50” list of fastest-growing, U.S. mid-sized restaurant chains for the second-consecutive year. Entrepreneur magazine also named East Coast Wings + Grill one of the nation’s top franchise investments, and Franchise Times magazine ranked the company No. 383 on its “Top 200+” list of top revenue-producing U.S. franchises. The concept has also been recognized by The Franchise Grade and Franchise Business Review for transparency during the franchise sales process, franchisee support and overall franchisee satisfaction. For more information about East Coast Wings + Grill or its franchise opportunities, visit www.eastcoastwings.com or www.eastcoastwingsfranchise.com.
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Shalimar, FL (RestaurantNews.com) Food industry veteran Dan Sokolik has joined LFR Chicken LLC, owner of the Lee’s Famous Recipe® Chicken brand, as vice president of marketing. Sokolik has 20 years of quick service restaurant (QSR) marketing experience at the corporate, ad agency and franchisee levels. His work includes over 10 years with Subway in both corporate field marketing and agency account director roles. He also led an agency team for McDonald’s and was director of marketing for a multi-unit Domino’s Pizza franchise. Most recently he managed the Lee’s account for its agency of record, Stone Ward.
“Lee’s has experienced record-setting sales growth over the past several years, and we’re expanding the footprint of the brand, so the time is right to have a QSR pro such as Dan join the team to support our aggressive growth plans,” says Ryan Weaver, Lee’s CEO. “Our goal for Lee’s is to grow it into a category-leading brand and introduce it to many more cities and states across the country. Dan’s experience and expertise will be of immense value to our franchisees and operators and will support our vision and growth aspirations.”
“During my time working on the Lee’s business at Stone Ward, I’ve seen firsthand how the combination of Lee’s passionate owners and operators coupled with great tasting, high quality menu items make this brand standout,” says Sokolik. “I look forward to being a part of Lee’s leadership team during this exciting time in the company’s history. I’m eager to help shape the future of this great brand and introduce it to even more consumers.”
Both Sokolik and Weaver point to new technology, internal processes and investment in the “already solid Lee’s platform” as integral in scaling the business that was founded 55 years ago by the “Colonel’s” nephew Lee Cummings and his business partner Harold Omer. Today, Lee’s has 131 locations in 12 U.S. states and Canada with announcements coming soon for additional store development.
About Lee’s Famous Recipe® Chicken
For more than 50 years Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, a casual dining franchise founded in Lima, Ohio, has specialized in fresh, never frozen chicken. Today there are 131 Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken locations in 12 U.S. states and in Canada and all are individually owned and operated. For additional information, please visit LeesFamousRecipe.com.
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Claudia Lezcano Promoted to Senior Vice President of Marketing
Atlanta, GA (RestaurantNews.com) Following a year of successful initiatives to revitalize their brand character, Texas heritage and unique bold flavors, Church’s Chicken® announced it has promoted Claudia Lezcano to Senior Vice President U.S. Marketing. This move further expands its significant industry expertise to the Church’s executive team Church’s Chicken Values Culture and Expands Its Leadership with QSR Industry Expert and Seasoned Marketerwhich has continued to embrace diversity of thought across its entire corporate and restaurant network. In her newly updated role, Lezcano will oversee brand strategy, creative, media, and product R&D divisions across the U.S. and report directly to President and CEO, Joe Christina.
“Claudia has the vision and attitude to help us fulfill our next 5-Year Strategic Plan,” stated Christina. “She brings clarity around purpose and people, key characteristics among our leadership team. It is important to all of us at Church’s to recognize people and create opportunities for our brightest stars to grow and advance.”
Lezcano, recently highlighted in Senior Human Resource Management, first joined Church’s in summer of 2021 as Vice President of Brand Strategy & Activation, leading a talented group of marketers.
In her role, Claudia will be responsible for maximizing marketing’s impact on the business, specifically around growing sales and profitable traffic, cross functional collaboration to solve strategic business opportunities and leading initiatives that will drive future growth; these include the loyalty platform, data driven customer contact management and insights inspired connectivity with Church’s diverse customer base. Lezcano will serve as an important liaison between the company and U.S. franchisees.
“I am honored that the Church’s family has appreciated my contributions thus far, and I am motivated to build upon those achievements in ways that positively impact the entire brand,” said Lezcano. “I believe the power of diverse leadership encourages more participation from all stakeholders and my goal is to be the kind of inspirational leader that motivates personal and professional growth.”
About Church’s Chicken®
Founded in San Antonio, TX in 1952 by George W. Church, Church’s Chicken® is one of the largest quick service restaurant chicken chains in the world. Church’s® specializes in Original and Spicy Chicken freshly prepared throughout the day in small batches that are hand-battered and double-breaded, Tender Strips®, Honey-Butter Biscuits™ made from scratch and freshly baked, and classic, home-style sides all for a great value. Church’s® (along with its sister brand Texas Chicken® outside the Americas) has more than 1,500 locations in 23 countries and international territories and system-wide sales of more than $1 billion. For more information, visit www.churchs.com. Follow Church’s® on Facebook at www.facebook.com/churchschicken and Twitter at www.twitter.com/churchschicken.
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President and CEO of America’s #1 buffet and grill selected to oversee board of directors for restaurant industry’s leading business association
Raleigh, NC (RestaurantNews.com) Golden Corral is proud to announce that the company’s President and CEO Lance Trenary has been named chair of the National Restaurant Association Board of Directors.
Trenary joins Vice Chair Scott Redler, co-founder and COO of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, and Treasurer Jeff Lobdell, president and founder of Restaurant Partners Management, along with several newly elected directors on the board.
“I am honored to serve as chair of the National Restaurant Association Board of Directors,” Trenary said. “Our industry has shown incredible resilience over the past two years, and I look forward to working with the incredible staff at the association, as well as my colleagues on the board to find strategic and innovative ways to emerge from these challenging times.”
Marvin Irby, interim president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association and CEO of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, said in a press release that Trenary’s unique background and comprehensive knowledge will contribute a key perspective to the board during the industry’s time of rebuilding.
Trenary is also currently a trustee for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, serves on the executive committee of the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association in addition to having served as a member, and serves as a member of the Women’s Foodservice Forum CEO Advisory Council. Committed to giving back, Trenary serves as a founding board member for Camp Corral, a summer camp for children of wounded or fallen military service members. He also serves on the Founder’s Circle Advisory Board for Project Healing Waters, which is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of wounded or disabled military service personnel. He is a passionate supporter of ProStart for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and contributes time and resources to help young people explore career opportunities in the industry that he loves.
Trenary has progressed through a variety of leadership roles during his 36-year tenure at Golden Corral. He is only the third person to hold the position of CEO in the brand’s 49-year history – a role he has held since 2015. Golden Corral’s legendary endless buffet features an abundant variety of quality, made-from-scratch food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests can choose from over 100 items including USDA grilled to order steaks, pork, seafood and shrimp alongside traditional favorites like pot roast, fried chicken, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, fresh salads and more.
About Golden Corral
Founded in 1973 and based in Raleigh, N.C., Golden Corral is the nation’s largest grill-buffet restaurant chain. Golden Corral strives to make pleasurable dining affordable for all families. While its commitment begins each day with preparing delicious food, Golden Corral also believes in providing outstanding hospitality and giving back. Service to others is a hallmark of the Golden Corral brand. Golden Corral restaurants nationwide have long been strong supporters of the U.S. Military and DAV (Disabled American Veterans). Golden Corral is also the founding sponsor of Camp Corral, a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation, which provides free, one-of-a-kind summer camp experiences for children of wounded, injured, ill or fallen service members. For more information, visit goldencorral.com and follow Golden Corral on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
View source version at National Restaurant Association