McAlister’s Deli is pleased to announce the promotion of Ken Green to the newly-created position of chief operating officer.
Green joined the McAlister’s corporate family in September 2007 and made an immediate impact on both company- and franchisee-owned locations. Given his vast industry knowledge–he spent over 20 years working for Friendly’s, Cosi, TGI Friday’s, and Las Vegas’ Stratosphere Hotel and Casino–Green tackled every new challenge with ease and implemented a variety of strategies to streamline McAlister’s overall operation. In his new role, effective immediately, Green will continue his work with company and franchise operations in addition to coordinating training and marketing and culinary steering committees. Green will also retain his senior vice president title in addition to his new COO designation.
“I’m excited to be taking on this role during such a defining time in McAlister’s history. With nearly 300 restaurants, we’ve managed to thrive and evolve despite industry uncertainty and recent economic instability. In fact, what I am most proud of is how many of our franchisees are currently seeing sales that far exceed the goals set during our fall planning cycle,” Green says. “It’s because McAlister’s is not just our product, it’s our people. Our guests will keep coming back because of the care we put into our menu items and the exceptional service they receive each time they walk through the door. We work diligently to monitor guest satisfaction, a concept not necessarily unique to the restaurant industry but the depth and breadth to which McAlister’s seeks out that information and the buy-in of the franchise community is not only exceptional–it is astounding.”
Philip Friedman, chairman, president, and CEO of McAlister’s Deli, is equally enthusiastic about Green’s promotion.
“Ken has been such an asset to our team, and we are all thrilled about his new position,” Friedman says. “Ken’s leadership, knowledge, and experience will ensure the continued growth of the McAlister’s brand and concept.”
Founded in 1989, Ridgeland, Mississippi-based McAlister’s Deli is a quick-casual restaurant chain featuring efficient counter ordering, attentive table service, and high-quality deli-style foods at a great price value. The menu includes a wide variety of sandwiches, spuds, soups, salads, and desserts, as well as garden-fresh vegetarian selections, a children’s menu, appetizers, and beverages. The menu is designed around food products that do not have to be cooked on traditional gas-fired stoves or fryers. In addition to dine-in and take-out service, McAlister’s also offers casual catering, with a selection of deli and sandwich trays, vegetable, cheese and fruit trays, breakfast trays, box lunches, and desserts. McAlister’s has a strong expansion strategy in place: sales for 2007 surpassed $307 million and sales in 2008 should surpass $375 million. Currently, McAlister’s Deli has over 260 restaurants operating in the U.S. with plans to open 52 new restaurants in 2008 and enter four new states–Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
