Café Zupas today announced two key leadership hires to lead the fast-growing restaurant concept into its next chapter of growth – Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of People.
JP Knab will lead Café Zupas’ digital innovation and marketing efforts, joining the company as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Knab brings over 20 years of digital marketing experience, serving as Overstock.com’s CMO through the digital retailer’s boom, and most recently serving as CMO at Jane.com.
Carl Sokia, a proven leader in human resources with over 20 years of experience, will lead Café Zupas’ culture and talent programs as the new Vice President of People. Sokia joins the Café Zupas team with a background in luxury hospitality, having worked at some of the country’s most recognizable hotel brands.
“As we continue to prioritize growth at Café Zupas, digital innovation and our team members remain at the core of who we are and what we do. We are thrilled to bring on JP and Carl – both of whom have proven backgrounds in exactly what Café Zupas needs to propel us into our next chapter. JP and Carl will have a profound impact on our guests and team members alike and we can’t wait for all that’s to come,” said Café Zupas Founders Dustin Schulthies and Rob Seely.
Café Zupas has long prioritized digital innovation in all aspects of its business – including both marketing and operations. With a newly launched industry-leading loyalty program, and an upcoming revamp of its catering rewards program, digital will remain at the center of the company’s upcoming growth.
Café Zupas also prides itself on being a top place to work in the restaurant industry, with hospitality being a core principle of the brand. To attract and retain the best team members, Café Zupas is always raising the bar on culture, benefits, and pay. This includes their annual Trip of a Lifetime program, which rewards Café Zupas’ top leaders for hitting their goals with an international trip. This has included trips to France, Greece, Ireland, Switzerland, South Africa, and more.
With over 70 locations across eight states, Café Zupas has plans to open 10 locations in 2023, and even more in 2024.
About Café Zupas:
Beginning in 2004 in Provo, Utah, Café Zupas was created to provide a genuinely fresh and healthy alternative to the fast casual space. With over 200 premium ingredients delivered into each store daily, every meal at Café Zupas is made fresh but served fast. And to top it all off, every meal at Café Zupas is served with a free chocolate-dipped strawberry, dipped fresh daily in the restaurants. This recipe for success has allowed Café Zupas to grow into eight states, and open nearly 70 locations. With big plans for growth in the coming years, Café Zupas remains committed to providing endless opportunities to its nearly 3,000 team members who make it all possible.