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Restaurant Industry Executive Leads Formation of Craveworthy Brands

By: Craveworthy Brands |  0 Shares     187 Reads

Brings Together Team of Industry Leaders and Portfolio of Restaurant Brands

January 30, 2023 // Franchising.com // CHICAGO - A new venture with the backing of decades of accomplishments in the restaurant industry has been created to fulfill America’s insatiable appetite for elevated experiences and food quality at price points that won’t break the bank.

Craveworthy Brands (Craveworthy) has launched to meet this need. Its arrival onto the restaurant industry landscape comes as demand grows to offer consumers and restaurant franchise owners concepts that operate at peak efficiency and unbeatable value.

Gregg Majewski, current CEO of Mongolian Concepts (Genghis Grill, BD’s Mongolian Grill and Flat Top Grill) and formerly the COO, CFO and CEO for Jimmy John’s, is behind Craveworthy, establishing its talented leadership team and building out a collection of brands. He partnered with newly-created merchant banking division of FG Financial Group to form the company and support its growth.

“I’ve seen the restaurant world from so many perspectives over the years, and it is clear to me that the industry requires a new way of thinking given the new cost structure and commoditized experiences out there now. That’s why we created Craveworthy. We have a clean slate but a ton of relevant industry ‘muscle power’ to come out of the gates strong and sustain it,” said Majewski, who founded Craveworthy and serves as its CEO. “The resources we’re bringing together are capable of creating remarkable value for consumers and restaurant operators.”

At the onset, Craveworthy emerges with four early-lifecycle-stage brands. The diversified set of concepts includes two brands it acquired and two that Majewski and his team have created and launched in recent months. The two brands acquired have already shown notable strength in their respective categories and are aligned with the company’s desire to offer an unmatched proposition for consumers and franchisees.

One is Wing It On! that Craveworthy acquired this January. Focused on giving fans a truly exceptional wing experience that starts with fresh, never-frozen classic wings tossed in authentically-prepared flavors. Founder Matt Ensero, as well as other key company leaders, will remain with the company and become shared resources for Craveworthy. Ensero will serve as the brand’s President.

The other brand acquired is The Budlong, a celebrated and widely publicized Chicago-based Nashville hot chicken concept. All locations are operating in the Chicago market.

While franchising The Budlong and Wing It On! are top initial priorities, Craveworthy is also focused on the two brands it has created for its diversified portfolio – Krafted Burger Bar + Tap (Krafted) and Lucky Cat (Lucky Cat) Poke Company. Initial focus will be on solidifying existing operations and developing additional corporate-owned restaurants.

Krafted recently opened to large crowds in Bolingbrook, Illinois at the Promenade mall. The globally-inspired burger joint bringing a fresh twist on American classics will open its second location in Elmhurst, Illinois in the coming days.

Lucky Cat will soon open its first location in Oak Brook, Illinois at Oakbrook Center during Q1 2023. Also in the early part of this year, Lucky Cat will launch menu availability through ghost-kitchen units nationwide. The brand offers fast and delicious poke using the freshest ingredients available and takes flavor cues from all over the globe to serve consumers poke bowls unlike ever before.

Along with Majewski and Kabakoff, executives formerly with leading roles at McDonald’s, Roti, First Watch, Giordano’s Pizza and Einstein Bros. Bagels are all part of the Craveworthy team.

They include:

• Neil Quinn, CFO
• Lori Cominsky, VP of Operations
• Blake Johnson, VP of Marketing
• Justin Egan, VP of Marketing – Franchise Development & Digital Strategy
• Becca McIntyre, VP of Culinary and Supply Chain
• Jason Levinson, VP of Technology and IT
• Cassie Miller, Sr. Dir. Of Training and Operations
• Rich Guckel, VP of Development
• Kristin Albert, Dir. of Operations

SOURCE Craveworthy

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