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Togo’s CEO Tony Gioia to retireTogo’s CEO Tony Gioia to retire

COO Glenn Lunde promoted to president

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

May 5, 2017

1 Min Read
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Togo’s Holdings LLC, parent to the Togo’s sandwich chain, said chairman and CEO Tony Gioia will retire on May 31. 

Glenn Lunde, Togo’s chief concept officer, will be promoted to president of the brand on June 1, the San Jose, Calif.-based company said. 

Gioia has led the sandwich chain for 10 years. He will remain on Togo’s board of directors as a non-executive chairman, the company said. 

“It has been a privilege to lead the company for 10 years, and I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished at Togo’s in that time,” Gioia said in a statement.

Prior to Togo’s, Gioia served as president of Baskin Robbins, on the executive committee for Dunkin’ Donuts, and as chief operating officer at Wolfgang Puck Food Co. Gioia has also been an executive partner with several private-equity firms. In December 2015, he spearheaded the sale of Togo’s to Nimes Capital LLC.

Gioia now prepares to pass the torch.

“Lunde is a tremendously talented executive and is the ideal candidate to step in and take Togo’s to the next level of growth and success,” he said.

Lunde joined Togo’s in January. He previously held branding and marketing roles at Panda Restaurant Group, Round Table Pizza and Taco Bell. 

“I have been a loyal Togo’s customer since my high school days in the Bay Area, and I am very excited to lead this amazing brand in its next phase of growth,” Lunde said in a press release.

According to Nation’s Restaurant News Top 200 research, Togo's reported fiscal 2016 U.S. system sales of $145.6 million from a year-end 246 restaurants, including 12 company units and 234 franchised locations.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

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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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