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Dickey’s names industry veteran COODickey’s names industry veteran COO

Barbecue chain names Barry Barron to post

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

January 7, 2016

1 Min Read
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Barry Barron Dickey's

Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants Inc. has named Barry Barron chief operating officer, the Dallas-based company said Thursday.

Barron was most recently chairman and CEO at Plano, Texas-based Buffet Partners Holding Co., which owns Furr’s Fresh Buffet. He succeeds Andy Abbajay, who was named Dickey’s first COO in July 2014, and who left the company in December 2014.

“Barry’s combination of experience and expertise are a perfect fit for Dickey’s,” said Roland Dickey Jr., CEO of Dickey’s, citing Barron’s background in strategic planning.

Before leading Buffet Partners, Barron served as CEO for Dallas-based Red Mango USA and held executive positions at ACE Cash Express, PepsiCo and Papa John’s Pizza. Barron also wrote the book, “Succeeding as a Chief Operating Officer.”

“As a restaurant veteran,” Barron said in a statement, “I have seen many concepts come and go, but with Dickey’s focus on quality, sustainability and real-time data, Dickey’s is the forefront in the restaurant industry.”

Dickey’s, founded in 1941, now has more than 530 locations in 43 states.

Correction: Jan. 8, 2016 This story has been edited to clarify the year that Abbajay left Dickey’s.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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