Potbelly Corporation has named Larry Strain its chief development officer, effective immediately. He reports to the fast-casual sandwich restaurant chain’s president and CEO, Bob Wright.
Strain is a founding partner of consulting firm Restaurant Development Experts LLC and is being contracted out by that company to take on this additional role, in which he will oversee corporate development services, franchise sales & development, brokerage services & tenant representation and strategic & trade area-level market planning.
Strain has held real estate and restaurant development roles with McDonald’s, Dunkin’ Brands and Starbucks. Immediately before joining RDE he was chief development officer of Inque and senior vice president of real estate & store development for Global Partners LP.
“The addition of Larry and his wealth of experience in real estate and franchise development is critical in advancing Potbelly to our next phase of growth,” Wright said in a release announcing Strain’s appointment. “Larry is a highly regarded retail development and business strategist with the necessary background to advance Potbelly in the next stage of our ‘Traffic-Driven’ Profitability Strategic Plan. I could not be more excited to welcome him to our executive team.”
Strain said he was glad to be joining Chicago-based Potbelly.
“I am thrilled to join the Potbelly family and participate in its pivot to longer-term sustainable growth,” he said. “I look forward to partnering with Potbelly’s hardworking franchisees and over 6,000 Potbelly associates. I am highly confident in my ability to leverage my experience and look forward to contributing to Potbelly’s future success.”
Potbelly operates around 400 restaurants and franchises an additional 40 units.
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