GAITHESBERG Md. Sodexho has promoted Husein Kitabwalla to senior vice president of the contract feeder's Retail Brand Group, with responsibility for more than 500 locations of the division's proprietary fast-casual brands. The company also disclosed that RBG is extending its portfolio of concepts through the development of several additional ventures with basketball star Magic Johnson, who will lend his name to the new outlets.
The start-ups include a bar concept, Magic Johnson Sports Bar, and a retail-style food outlet, Magic Johnson Marketplace. Sodexho said it will also rechristen its proprietary sub concept as Magic Johnson Sub Connection.
All three of those ventures will be operated by SodexhoMagic LLC, a joint venture between Sodexho and the former Los Angeles Laker.
Kitabwalla was previously vice president of operations and brand development for RBG. He joined Sodexho in 1999 after managing six restaurants in the Main Street USA section of Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.
Sodexho, based here, said it generates about 46.7 billion annually in revenues.