Einstein Bros. Bagels Expands C-Suite for National Growth Strategy
Einstein Bros. Bagels has expanded its executive team to support a long-term growth strategy aimed at increasing the number of stores from approximately 700 units today to over 1,000 by 2030. The chain recently appointed Patrick Waldron as chief development officer, Shawna Fehrman-Lee as chief people officer, and Will Evans as chief financial officer. These hires are intended to support the brand's expansion goals, which include adding 300 new locations over three years. The executives bring extensive experience in real estate development, talent strategy, and restaurant finance. Waldron previously led Amazon’s grocery growth initiatives, Fehrman-Lee has a background at HelloFresh managing global people operations, and Evans brings financial leadership from multiple restaurant brands. The expansion plans include testing new store formats to enhance the customer experience across all channels. The company operates under various ownership models—company-owned, franchised, and licensed—which adds complexity to its growth strategy. Franchised units require significant investment ranging between $650,000 and $1.2 million per location.
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Topics: Franchise Expansion Leadership Hiring Restaurant Industry