Atlanta — Smalls Sliders has appointed veteran restaurant operations leader Clint Penfield as its new chief operating officer. In this role, Penfield will oversee systemwide operations and focus on building scalable infrastructure to support franchisee growth, while preserving the brand’s bold identity and relentless focus on guest experience.
Penfield brings over two decades of leadership from Raising Cane’s, one of the most admired growth stories in the restaurant industry. During his tenure, he held multiple senior roles — including chief of restaurant services, senior vice president of restaurant services, and regional vice president of operations — guiding operations across hundreds of locations as the brand evolved from regional favorite to national phenomenon.
“Smalls Sliders is built on a foundation of operational simplicity and bold hospitality,” says Penfield. “What drew me to this brand is how clearly it knows who it is and how deeply it’s committed to the success of its franchisees and team members. My goal is to scale what makes Smalls special, while ensuring every Can delivers a standout guest experience, every time.”
As COO of Smalls Sliders, Penfield will lead all aspects of restaurant operations, systems and field support. His focus will be building fast, consistent and guest-forward experiences inside every Can, while enhancing operational efficiency and strengthening support for franchisees. Penfield’s proven ability to scale high-performance teams and deliver simple, repeatable excellence makes him an ideal fit for Smalls as it accelerates nationwide expansion.
“Clint is a culture-first leader who knows how to build operations that move fast, stay consistent and deliver on our franchise promise and guest experience,” says Charles Watson, CEO of Smalls Sliders. “His people-first mindset and leadership will help us grow without ever losing what makes Smalls special.”
The first location opened in 2019; today there are more than 375 Smalls Sliders’ locations open or under development across 22 states. For more information, www.smallssliders.com or visit https://smallsslidersfranchising.com.
SOURCE: Smalls Sliders