Dive Brief:
- Smoothie King has appointed Gavin Felder, current chief financial officer, as president, the company said Thursday in an email to Restaurant Dive.
- Felder, who has been with the chain since May 2024, will maintain his responsibilities as CFO while taking on day-to-day management of the business.
- Felder’s new role coincides with the chain’s aggressive expansion plan — with 100 new units expected this year — and ongoing menu innovation, including the launch this week of its electrolyte smoothies within its Hydration category.
Dive Insight:
Smoothie King, which surpassed 1,200 units last year, is rapidly expanding, signing franchise agreements across 24 states and 39 designated market areas in 2024. During the first quarter, the chain opened 13 stores and signed 20 new store commitments across 15 markets, according to a press release.
Felder, who has two decades of global restaurant experience, has helped drive financial discipline and strategic growth initiatives at the chain thus far, according to the press release. He has experience in strategy, finance, brand building and franchise operations.
Prior to Smoothie King, he was at Yum Brands for 16 years, most recently as chief strategy officer, and oversaw corporate strategy, investor relations, M&A and store innovations across Yum’s brands. He also worked as CFO at KFC Global, where he managed over $1 billion in operating profit at nearly 25,000 restaurants across 140 countries.
“Gavin is a dynamic and visionary leader with a strong track record of driving results and building high-performing teams,” Wan Kim, owner and CEO of Smoothie King, said in a statement. “His impact over the past year has been significant, and this expanded role is a natural next step.”
