Auburn, Ala. — Guthrie’s, the chicken-finger only restaurant pioneer, has promoted Matthew Myers to chief operating officer while adding Mike Adams as the brand’s new director of operations.
Myers has spent nearly a decade with Guthrie’s. Under his leadership, Guthrie’s has strategically expanded its presence while improving restaurant execution across its system. These actions helped drive solid top-line growth and expanded the brand’s leading market share position. With Myers, Guthrie’s has been able to generate above industry average profit margins and grow unit volumes while also further streamlining operations, which have become major calling cards for potential franchise owners.
“Matthew has run the comprehensive day-to-day operations of Guthrie’s for several years now, so his promotion to COO is part of our natural and exciting evolution,” says Joe Kelly Guthrie, CEO of Guthrie’s Franchising, Inc. “We can’t wait to see the strategic growth that Matthew will champion as our new COO while also promoting additional innovation and support across our entire system. Matthew is emblematic of the deep bench of talent we continue to develop at Guthrie’s to support our growing network of franchisees and I could not be more pleased about his appointment to this critical role at this important time.”
Adams joins Guthrie’s as its new director of operations, having most recently served as director of operations with MMBB Holding Company overseeing 10 BurgerFi restaurants across five states. In that position, Adams was responsible for all day-to-day restaurant operations, site selection, personnel and purchasing with full profit and loss accountability. Prior to that, Adams has worked in all levels of the food and beverage industry with brands such as Popeyes, Cracker Barrel and Forbes-Hamilton Management Company, among others.
“Over his time in the restaurant space, Mike has built an impressive track record of strategic and operational accomplishments,” says Guthrie. “He has proven to be a successful and trusted leader and brings to this position a strong reputation for developing people and inspiring teams. His wealth of experience across a wide variety of restaurant brands will be a valuable asset as we continue to accelerate growth through 2022 and beyond.”
Guthrie’s was founded in Haleyville, Ala., in 1965 and, with the launch of its first chicken fingers only restaurant in Auburn, Ala., in 1982, the brand has grown to more than 40 locations across six states (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Ohio). For more information, visit www.guthrieschicken.com/franchising.
SOURCE: Guthrie’s