The Lost Cajun Bolsters Leadership Team with Two Executive Appointments
Company Added
Company Removed
Apply to Request List

The Lost Cajun Bolsters Leadership Team with Two Executive Appointments

New COO and CDO bring nearly 60 years of combined industry experience to burgeoning brand

May 30, 2018 // Franchising.com // COVINGTON, La. - The Lost Cajun, an aggressively expanding franchise chain focused on authentic Cajun food and hospitality, announces the appointments of two key executives: Richard Berns as Chief Operating Officer and Richard Leveille as Chief Development Officer.

Armed with nearly 60 years of combined experience in the franchise and restaurant industries, Berns and Leveille will be responsible for implementing new strategies and campaigns to continue driving The Lost Cajun’s national expansion.

"I have the utmost confidence in these gentlemen based upon their previous accomplishments and demonstrated performance in our industry,” said Raymond “Griff” Griffin, founder of The Lost Cajun. “They will add considerable depth to our management team and further position our brand for growth. Their expertise, enthusiasm and professionalism are a perfect complement to our already strong management team."

Berns began his career in the franchise restaurant space back in 1992 with Schlotzsky’s Deli, where he helped grow the franchise to more than 100 locations across four states in the span of eight years. He followed that tenure with a short stint at Del Taco, before joining Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery in 2006. For more than 10 years, he held various executive positions at Tilted Kilt and played a vital role in developing the brand’s national footprint from just three locations to more than 100.

Richard Leveille brings nearly 30 years of franchise and restaurant experience to his new role at The Lost Cajun. He previously spent 25 years as the Executive Vice President of Franchise Development for Smoothie King, growing the brand's footprint from a single unit to more than 600 during his tenure. Prior to joining The Lost Cajun, Leveille spent four years as the Vice President of Development for Floor Coverings International.

“We’re at this tipping point where people are just worn out with the same old thing - pizza, burgers and sandwiches,” said Berns. “The Lost Cajun is serving a segment of the market that is not currently being addressed - authentic Cajun food. This brand is on the verge of taking off and I couldn’t be more excited about joining the team.”

"I am pleased to join The Lost Cajun during this important stage in the company's evolution," said Leveille. "The Lost Cajun has significant momentum, and I look forward to working alongside Richard Berns and the rest of the management team to accelerate the execution of the company’s growth strategy."

The appointments come at a monumental time for the budding franchise. With 17 locations currently operating in four states, more than half of which have opened in the past two years alone, the company already has signed commitments for 13 additional stores. Seven of those stores are currently under construction, with another four in site selection. Leveille expects The Lost Cajun to have a total of 25 restaurants open by the end of 2018 and some 40-50 units by the end of 2019.

About The Lost Cajun

Founded in 2010 and franchising since 2013, The Lost Cajun is a family-friendly restaurant concept with a focus on authentic Cajun food and hospitality. Today, there are 17 restaurants open and operating in four states, with several others in various stages of development. For more information, visit www.thelostcajun.com

SOURCE The Lost Cajun

###

Comments:

comments powered by Disqus
Share This Page

Subscribe to our Newsletters