Big Chicken Welcomes Bobby Shaw as New VP of Operations

By: Big Chicken | 0 Shares 123 Reads

January 16, 2025 // Franchising.com // LAS VEGAS – Big Chicken is ushering in a new era of operational excellence with the appointment of Bobby Shaw as vice president of operations. A seasoned leader with more than four decades of experience in the restaurant franchising sector, Shaw will charge the brand’s growth, revolutionizing operations and teaming up with franchisees to deliver results. With a history of building powerhouse teams and scaling brands into household names, Shaw’s leadership will ensure every Big Chicken location thrives under a shared vision.

“Having spent years in the fast-casual sector, I’ve always been drawn to brands that deliver exceptional food while also cultivating a bold, unique culture. Big Chicken checks both boxes,” said Shaw. “My first experience with Big Chicken at the Kansas City Airport. After visiting one of its locations in Las Vegas, the chef-driven culinary excellence and the energy of the team were immediately evident. I knew this was the right place to make an impact. Looking ahead, I’m excited to work alongside our franchise partners to optimize operations and continue building a brand.”

Shaw’s career in the restaurant industry began with humble roots, working in the back of the house at McDonald’s in high school. What started as a part-time job evolved into a 17-year journey with the brand, where he worked his way up from an hourly employee to a multi-unit leader on the corporate team. Shaw attributes his meteoric rise to the lessons he learned at McDonald’s—mastering systems, refining processes, and building operational excellence from the ground up. In 2002, Shaw joined Chipotle, a small company that had recently expanded to his home base in Kansas City. Over the next decade, he helped fuel Chipotle’s skyrocketing growth, ultimately overseeing 228 stores as the brand became a household name.

After his tenure at Chipotle, Shaw entered the C-suite as president and chief operating officer of Freebirds World Burrito. There, he rebuilt the executive team, re-engineered the menu, and led the strategic redesign of the brand with its Freebirds 2.0 prototype. In 2016, Shaw founded his own consulting firm, working with notable brands including Wahlburgers, Salad & Go, Teriyaki Madness, and others. This work led him to Sheridan’s Unforked, where he transitioned from a consultant to the brand’s chief operations officer, refining and scaling the chef-driven brand. Most recently, Shaw joined Salt & Straw in 2022, driving the brand’s expansion with 14 new locations in just 19 months. His entrepreneurial experience and hands-on involvement with fast-casual brands have given him a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities operators face, which he now brings to his role with Big Chicken.

“Bobby’s experience stood out to me quickly from a candidate pool of more than 1,200 applicants. He brings an incredible depth of experience and a true passion for this industry to Big Chicken. We’re thrilled to have him on board,” said Josh Halpern, CEO of Big Chicken.

SOURCE Big Chicken

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