DALLAS The La Madeleine Bakery, Café and Bistro chain has named menu-development veteran Philip Costner chief operation officer.
Costner most recently was vice president of food and beverage for Carlson Restaurants Worldwide of Carrollton, Texas. Carlson and its franchisees operate 1,000 T.G.I. Friday’s and Pick Up Stix casual restaurants.
Costner, who also has worked with Universal Studios, LSG Sky Chefs and Warwick Hotels International, replaces Roz Mallet, who left 61-unit La Madeleine in March to become president and COO of Caribou Coffee Co. Inc. in Minneapolis.
As COO of La Madeleine, which was an early entrant in the fast-casual market, Costner will oversee operations, culinary and quality assurance, purchasing and human resources.
Costner serves on the board of the International Corporate Chefs Association. He was an NRN Menu Masters Award Winner in 2005.
La Madeleine has hired a search firm to seek a replacement for Greg Buchanan as president, who left earlier this month to become chief executive of Buffet Partners Holding Co., parent of the Furr's Fresh Buffet chain.