Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., parent company of the Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana fast casual restaurant brands, announced that Jackie Swift-Kurkjian has joined the company as Senior Director of Off-Premise Consumption.
Fiesta President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Stockinger says, “The expertise Jackie brings will enhance our opportunities to build catering, online, and third-party delivery sales and capitalize on the company’s investment in new management systems, staff and other resources as part of Fiesta’s Strategic Renewal Plan. This will propel off-premise initiatives at both Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana. We are excited about her passion and commitment to our brands and expect it will deliver a positive impact to our business.”
Swift-Kurkjian brings to Fiesta more than 15 years of national catering outreach expertise and will be responsible for growing the Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana brands’ backline sales, including catering, takeout and delivery channels.
Swift-Kurkjian formerly served as National Director of Catering and Backline Sales for the 450-unit Potbelly Sandwich Works brand, and as Director of Catering Sales & Operations for the Qdoba brand. She also served as a faculty member of The Catering Institute and was instrumental in developing off-premise catering for the Boston Market brand.
She is a Council Member of the Catering Council for Multi-Unit Restaurant Operators (CCMURO) and also serves as a panelist at a number of industry workshops and presentations.