Dive Brief:

• BurgerFi has appointed Carl Bachmann, president of Smashburger, as its CEO effective July 10, the company announced Tuesday. 
• Bachmann, who has over two decades of restaurant experience, succeeds Ian Baines, who is retiring June 7. 
• As CEO, Bachmann will likely oversee various initiatives to improve sales and operations, including menu development and unit expansion across both BurgerFi and Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings.

Dive Insight:

Bachmann’s extensive experience could help turn declining same-store sales around at BurgerFi, which reported same-store sales declines of 4% during the first quarter.

The company has leaned on LTOs to help drive sales. BurgerFi recently rolled out several LTOs, including the award-winning Barbecue Rodeo Burger. This burger was so successful that the company extended the LTO period and added a Patty Melt version, COO John Iannucci, said during the company’s May earnings call. Anthony’s also added an LTO pizza in April with Mike’s Hot Honey, and introduced a new wine menu featuring 11 new wines and Proseccos. 

Last quarter, the company opened two franchised BurgerFi locations, including a location in Newark Liberty Airport, and transferred two franchised units to corporate ownership, Iannucci said. The company is emphasizing new units in airports and has several deals in the works. BurgerFi plans to open 15 to 20 restaurants this year, all of which will be franchised. One of these locations will be a franchised Anthony’s location. Anthony’s, which grew same-stores sales by 3% during the first quarter, has seen increased engagement from its digital marketing and loyalty rewards program, Iannucci said on the call. 

As Smashburger’s president, Bachmann created a five-point business plan to accelerate growth. To achieve this, he rebuilt the leadership team, brought back high-quality food items, redefined its real estate portfolio, rolled out a new food safety, service and cleanliness and restaurant conditions initiative and created a new marketing team, per the press release. 

During his tenure, Smashburger also posted double-digit systemwide same-store sales growth and double-digit expansion with new corporate and franchise units. The company also migrated to a new e-commerce platform, which led to an increase in owned channel digital revenues and better customer experience, per the release. Prior to his role of president, he served as COO beginning in 2017 before adding president to his title.

Bachmann’s experience also includes his roles as SVP of operations for Bertucci’s and as a franchise operator of several Ruby Tuesday restaurants in Long Island, New York, for nearly 12 years, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to that, he was director of operations at Ruby Tuesday for four years.