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Inspire Brands CEO Paul Brown and chief commercial services officer Navin Sharma on closing a major restaurant acquisition during the pandemicInspire Brands CEO Paul Brown and chief commercial services officer Navin Sharma on closing a major restaurant acquisition during the pandemic

These Power List players discuss the lessons they learned as they acquired Dunkin’ during Inspire Brands’ big year

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

April 20, 2021

Despite celebrating off of one of the largest restaurant acquisitions in recent restaurant industry history, Power Listers Inspire Brands CEO Paul Brown and chief commercial services officer Navin Sharma know that this past year has still been a challenging one. With the $11.3 billion acquisition of Dunkin’, Inspire Brands is now the second-largest foodservice company in the United States and their leadership believes that the challenges of the pandemic served to highlight their company strengths.

“We were able to do the things others were having trouble with whether it was supply chain or digital operational capabilities,” Brown said. “It really validates that thesis of multi-branding.”

But acquiring a new brand is not the only focus Inspire Brands had during the pandemic. Sharma said that they were well-positioned to succeed in 2020 because prior to the pandemic, they spent a lot of time and effort investing in their digital infrastructure, like online personalization and customers being able to order what they want through their preferred channel.

“We wouldn’t have been able to have the results we had last year if we had not made those investments,” Sharma said.

Watch the video to learn more leadership lessons from Inspire Brands’ power List honorees and check out more leadership conversations here.

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About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine.

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events.

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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