Pizza Inn Holdings Inc. has named industry veteran Randy Gier chief executive, the company said Friday.
Gier most recently was founder and chief executive of Plano, Texas-based Savvy Fare Restaurant Group, which is parent to the fast-casual Cedars Woodfire Grill. Gier succeeds Charles Morrison, who left Pizza Inn in June to become president and chief executive at Wingstop Restaurant Corp.
RELATED
• Pizza Inn names Jerome Trojan CFO
• Pizza Inn to expand Pie Five Pizza Co.
• More restaurant industry executive changes
Pizza Inn’s interim chairman, Clinton J. Coleman, will return to his seat on The Colony, Texas-based company’s board, the company said.
“Randy brings an incredible resume to his new job, and he joins Pizza Inn Holdings at a pivotal moment in the company's history,” Coleman said in a statement.
The company’s concepts include the buffet-style Pizza Inn brand and the eight-unit fast-casual Pie Five Pizza chain.
Gier has spent nearly 30 years in the food and beverage industry, including positions with the Pizza Hut and KFC divisions of Yum! Brands, as well as at the Dr Pepper/Snapple Group, Borden Dairy and PepsiCo.
“Pizza Inn is an iconic brand with considerable growth potential, and Pie Five is an exciting new brand poised to lead the fast-casual pizza segment. Together they are the dynamic duo of the pizza business,” Gier said in a statement.
Pie Five Pizza won a 2012 Hot Concept award from Nation's Restaurant News earlier this year.
Pizza Inn has about 300 restaurants.
Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless