Whataburger has named Todd Huetinck as its new chief supply chain officer, effective immediately.
Huetinck joins the Texas-based burger chain from CKE Restaurants, where he most recently served as senior vice president, supply chain management, overseeing operations for 3,000 Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants. Throughout his 18 years at CKE, he took on increasingly responsible roles, making significant contributions in food safety and quality assurance.
His appointment comes about a month after Debbie Stroud was named president and CEO of Whataburger following longtime CEO Ed Nelson’s retirement announcement. Stroud officially takes over on Jan. 1.
"As we continue to promote from within and attract world-class outside talent to our organization, we seek leaders who not only bring relevant experience and industry expertise but also share our passion for Whataburger and our steadfast commitment to fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and extraordinary hospitality," executive vice president and chief administrative officer Alexander Ivannikov said in a statement. "At Whataburger, we are sticklers for quality, and Todd's extensive background in developing quality systems across vast geographies was particularly valuable to us. While our growth plans are ambitious, we only expand if we can maintain the same high standards for both product and experience. Todd brings a unique and valuable perspective to the CSCO role to help ensure we uphold these commitments as we grow."
Huetinck's career with CKE began in 2006 in quality assurance, where he managed compliance for both Carl's Jr. and Hardee's. During his tenure, he implemented a SaaS system to improve supplier and product management efficiency. In 2017, he was promoted to vice president, quality assurance, leading global quality assurance and food safety for 3,600 restaurants in 40 countries, and in 2019, he was promoted to vice president of purchasing and quality assurance.
In 2021, Huetinck became senior vice president of supply chain management, a role that managed more than $1 billion in annual purchases and led the purchasing, distribution, quality assurance/product compliance, and restaurant food safety departments. His leadership extended to overseeing a distribution network of 15 warehouses and collaborating with culinary innovation teams to commercialize new products.
Huetinck holds a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of California at Riverside and a master of business administration in supply chain management from California State University, San Bernardino.
"My first experience at Whataburger was more than 30 years ago during a family vacation in Texas. I'm excited to join the Whataburger family and contribute to the brand's legacy and growth," Huetinck said in a statement. "I was drawn to Whataburger by its rich heritage and legacy, and I look forward to growing the brand while honoring the traditions that shaped it."
Whataburger generates a systemwide revenue of more than $4 billion annually across more than 1,050 restaurants in 16 states.
Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]
