Victor Heutz has been named chief operations officer of 507-unit fast-casual chain Noodles & Company with responsibility for leading teams in day-to-day operations, strategic planning and guest service, the Broomfield, Colo.-based company said Tuesday.
He replaces the company’s former executive vice president of operations, Phil Petrilli.
Heutz most recently was vice president of U.S. Franchise operations for Buffalo Wild Wings. Before that, from 2009 to 2015, he was Starbucks Corp.’s vice president of operations for the Mid-Atlantic region. He was vice president of franchise operations for the eastern U.S. for Cold Stone Creamery from 2005 to 2009.
“I am pleased to welcome victor to our leadership team,” Noodles & Company chairman and CEO Kevin Reddy said in a statement. “Not only is Victor an accomplished executive with more than 25 years of financial and multi-unit operational leadership experience, but I believe his enthusiasm and passion for excellence will be infectious in elevating our system-wide operations structure, while furthering our ‘Made. Different.,’ brand positioning.”
In the company’s most recent earnings announcement, which reported an improvement in traffic, Reddy credited that brand positioning, launched earlier this year, as well as operational improvements and off-premise sales, for the company’s progress in trying to turn around slumping sales.
Heutz said, “I am thrilled to be joining a unique brand that is building momentum across several initiatives. I look forward to working and collaborating with the entire Noodles & Company team to further capitalize on its differentiated positioning in the fast casual restaurant space.”
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