IRVING Texas Cheddar's Casual Cafe, operator of the namesake 61-unit casual chain, has named Red Lobster veteran Kelly C. Baltes chairman and chief executive.
Baltes most recently was executive vice president for 685-unit Red Lobster, a division of Darden Restaurants Inc. He assumes a position previously held by the late Aubrey G. Good, who co-founded Cheddar’s in 1978 with Douglas H. Rogers, who remains vice chairman. Good died in July 2006.
Cheddar’s has restaurants in 16 states and last year reported systemwide revenue of more than $255 million. The company owns and operates 28 Cheddar’s Casual Cafes and two Fish Daddy’s restaurants. It franchises 33 stores.
Cheddar's is co-owned by two private-equity firms, Oak Investment Partners and Catterton Partners. Jerry Gallagher, general partner of Oak Investment Partners, said: “Kelly has the interpersonal skills, strategic vision and operating experience to lead Cheddar's through an evolution from a highly successful regional company to a great national chain.”
