Atlanta-based Huddle House has named Jenn Townsend executive chef and director of menu development, the family-dining operator said Thursday.
Townsend, a native of Atlanta, was most recently the director of operations support and integration at Church’s Chicken, where she facilitated and managed the concept-to-launch process of new menu items and managed the quick-service chain’s research and development kitchens. She has also worked at Arby’s Restaurant Group and Blimpie International.
“Being from Georgia, I have a sweet spot for Southern comfort food,” she said in a press release. “This is a tremendous opportunity. Huddle House is going in the right direction. We are opening new stores, increasing same-store sales and I look forward to playing an important role in that growth.”
Huddle House was bought by Sentinel Capital Partners in April 2012, and returned to same-store sales growth last year. The chain was projected to open 16 units in the fiscal year ended in April.
Limited-time offers introduced in the past year included a line of Stuffed and Smothered Omelets last spring, and Hot Tots — omelets topped with tater tots — which were a limited-time offer at the end of last summer.
Huddle House did not say whom Townsend replaces.
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