Jeremy Hartley will leave fast-casual brand in October
.svg?width=1280&auto=webp&quality=95&format=jpg&disable=upscale "Nation's Restaurant News")
Zoe’s Kitchen Inc.’s chief operating officer, Jeremy Hartley, will step down as of Oct. 23, the company said Wednesday.
Hartley, who joined the Dallas-based fast-casual Mediterranean brand in 2013, is leaving “to focus on personal interests,” the company said.
“We thank Jeremy for his work and contributions over the last four years and express our heartfelt appreciation for his commitment to growing the Zoës Kitchen brand,” said Kevin Miles, Zoe’s Kitchen CEO and president, in a statement.
“He has built a strong leadership team devoted to operational excellence that will continue to provide our guests with a differentiated dining experience,” Miles said.
Hartley led the brand through the company’s initial public offering in 2014 and helped open more than 100 locations. Zoe’s now has 235 restaurants in 20 states.
“It’s been a privilege and an honor to see Zoës Kitchen through much growth,” said Hartley in a press release.
For the second quarter ended July 10, Zoe’s income fell 51.8 percent to $579,000, or three cents a share, from $1.2 million, or six cents a share, in the same period last year. Revenues increased 12.1 percent, to $74.3 million, from $66.3 million in the prior-year quarter.
Same-store sales declined 3.8 percent among the 169 restaurants in the comparative base, the company said. That included a 5 percent decline in transactions and product mix offset by a 1.2 percent increase in price.
Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless
