Lake Forest-based fast food chain Del Taco LLC opened a company-owned restaurant in Snellville, Ga., the first of 60 locations planned for the Atlanta metropolitan area.
The chain plans an April opening of its second Georgia restaurant, a company-owned location in Kennesaw. Some of the planned stores will be franchised.
Separately, Del Taco said it hired former Yum Brands Inc. executive David Pear as senior vice president of operations. Del Taco also appointed consultant Chad Gretzema as senior vice president of operations support.
The Mexican-inspired food chain, which has more than 530 restaurants, said the hires tie into a larger marketing effort.
“Del Taco is on an aggressive mission to redefine how … [customers] view our product and service experience,” Del Taco Chief Executive Paul Murphy said.
Pear replaces Don Stoops, who has left Del Taco; Gretzema takes a newly created position, reporting to Del Taco Chief Brand Officer John Cappasola.
Del Taco also announced the promotion of Noah Chillingworth to marketing vice president from a previous post of senior director of brand marketing and advertising. Pete Honer, previously vice president of business insight and planning, was upped to the newly created position of senior vice president of finance.
—Kari Hamanaka
