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From buffet chains to bowling lanes, the new CEO of Punch Bowl Social, John Haywood, explains his plan for 'eatertainment' conceptFrom buffet chains to bowling lanes, the new CEO of Punch Bowl Social, John Haywood, explains his plan for 'eatertainment' concept

Most restaurants will reopen by September, says the newly tapped leader, who formerly led Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes

Nancy Luna, Senior editor, Nation's Restaurant News

August 19, 2020

3 Min Read
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John Haywood, the new CEO of Punch Bowl Social, said the Millennial-geared concept is not upending its “eatertainment” business model even amid challenging restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

“There is nothing broken in the concept,” Haywood said. “The only changes we’ll be making will be the interim ones that we need to make our guests and team members safe.”

Haywood was named the new CEO of Punch Bowl this week. He spoke to Nation’s Restaurant News about his plans for the brand, which he referred to as an industry-leading concept with industry-leading sales before COVID-19.

Known as a turnaround specialst, Haywood comes to Punch Bowl from Garden Fresh Restaurants, the parent company of buffet chains Souplantation ...

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About the Author

Nancy Luna

Senior editor, Nation's Restaurant News

Nancy Luna is a senior editor at Nation's Restaurant News and a contributing editor at Supermarket News. She covers the industry's largest and most talked about fast-food brands including McDonald's, Starbucks, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Subway. She is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years reporting experience. As a veteran business reporter based in Southern California, Nancy has covered some of the country's most beloved food and retail brands including In-N-Out, Taco Bell, Trader Joe's, Aldi, Whole Foods Market, Target and Costco. Luna is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton. When she's not digging for news on her beat, you can find Nancy regaling her fans about her latest dining adventures on her Fast Food Maven social media channels. Contact [email protected]  or follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/fastfoodmaven

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