Virtual brand company Nextbite has hired former Red Robin CEO Denny Marie Post as co-president.
The restaurant veteran has been an adviser with the company since September. As co-president alongside Paul Allen, she will oversee marketing, operations and culinary innovation as Nextbite looks to expand its reach within chain restaurants.
The Denver-based company offers online-only concepts that restaurants can license and serve out of their kitchens for delivery only. It has recently begun partnering with large chains like IHOP to develop bespoke virtual brands, an area where Post has lent her expertise.
“We have sharpened our focus to make it easy for multi-unit restaurants to be successful with virtual brand offerings, and Denny is the ideal executive to lead us in this next phase of growth,” said Alex Canter, CEO and co-founder of Nextbite, in a statement. “Her depth of restaurant leadership experience, innovation track record and vision for the future is already proving to be invaluable as we ramp up our business.”
Post was CEO of Red Robin from 2011 to 2019, and has also held leadership roles at Starbucks, Burger King and Yum Brands dating back to 1996. Since leaving Red Robin, she has served on numerous corporate boards and been an advisor at ghost kitchen company Reef Technology. Her long restaurant career is dotted with culinary innovations: She led the development of well-known products like Starbucks' Pike Place Roast and KFC's Popcorn Chicken.
In Nextbite, she found an innovative company that she has said could help define the future of restaurants.
“Working as an advisor for Nextbite gave me a front row seat to an amazing company with a tremendous opportunity to re-imagine the restaurant industry,” Post said in a statement. “I look forward to joining the team as co-president, helping to lead its next phase of growth.”
Nextbite now has nearly 20 virtual brands. Its latest additions are Cake Cup Creamery, a partnership with TikTok star Dylan LeMay, and Packed Bowls with rapper Wiz Khalifa. It also co-developed IHOP's in-house Thrilled Cheese and Super Mega Dilla brands.
In October 2020, the company raised $120 million to help it grow.
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