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7 Brew taps former Walk-On’s CEO Christopher Dawson to be president7 Brew taps former Walk-On’s CEO Christopher Dawson to be president

He will lead the company’s growth, which included a 350% jump in unit count from 2022 to 2023, and a 267% increase in sales

Alicia Kelso, Executive Editor

January 22, 2025

1 Min Read
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Christopher DawsonPhoto courtesy of 7 Brew

Drive-thru beverage concept 7 Brew today named Christopher Dawson as its new president. Dawson will report to chief executive officer John Davidson and is charged with leading the chain’s continued expansion across the United States.

Dawson has more than 20 years of experience leading brands in both the restaurant and automotive space. He most recently served as CEO of Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux. Prior, he was a multi-brand president at Driven Brands, leading the paint and collision segment. He also has experience at Denny’s and CiCis Pizza as a multiunit franchisee.  

“7 Brew is a fast-growing powerhouse in the drive-thru beverage space, and I am confident that the brand has a tremendous runway of further growth ahead in the U.S.,” Dawson said in a statement. “It’s a pleasure to join the 7 Brew family, and I look forward to nurturing the team’s unique culture, supporting stand expansion, and ensuring profitability in both company-owned and franchise-operated locations.”

7 Brew has experienced tremendous growth throughout the past couple of years. According to Technomic, the company’s sales grew by more than 267% from 2022 to 2023, while its footprint grew by 350% to finish the year with 180 locations. There were approximately 2,000 units tied to development agreements at the end of 2022.

Related:7 Brew’s growth is driven by its culture/capital connection

“We are thrilled to welcome Chris to the 7 Brew leadership team. I am confident that his hospitality expertise and impressive background in franchise development and operations will propel our company forward and further our mission of cultivating kindness,” Davidson said in a statement.

Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]

About the Author

Alicia Kelso

Executive Editor, Nation's Restaurant News

Alicia Kelso is the executive editor of Nation's Restaurant News. She began covering the restaurant industry in 2010 for QSRweb.com, FastCasual.com and PizzaMarketplace.com. When her son was born, she left the industry to pursue a role in higher education, but swiftly returned after realizing how much she missed the space. In filling that void, Alicia added a contributor role at Restaurant Dive and a senior contributor role at Forbes.
Her work has appeared in publications around the world, including Forbes Asia, NPR, Bloomberg, The Seattle Times, Crain's Chicago, Good Morning America and Franchise Asia Magazine.
Alicia holds a degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University, where she competed on the women's swim team. In addition to cheering for the BGSU Falcons, Alicia is a rabid Michigan fan and will talk about college football with anyone willing to engage. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her wife and son.

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