Earl Enterprises, parent to the Buca di Beppo and Brio brands, has named Valentina Ellison as chief development officer for non-traditional, the company said this week.
The Orlando, Fla.-based Earl Enterprises said Ellison will expand its brands into locations such as shopping malls, airports, sports arenas, and stadiums.
Ellison has served as senior vice president of business development at REEF, the ghost-kitchen operator, and as vice president of business development at Areas USA.
“I am delighted that Valentina has accepted this important position inside Earl Enterprises,” said Robert Earl, founder of Earl Enterprises, in a statement. “We have worked together on projects in the past, and I have been impressed with her drive and vision. Now that she is inside the company, I look forward to supporting her plans for rapid expansion into these non-traditional settings, where we clearly can adapt our core brands to work in a wide range of venues.”
Earl Enterprises acquired the Bravo and Brio restaurant brands in 2020.
The company said Ellison has already begun collaborating with the operations teams to adapt some of Earl Enterprises’ brands, such as Buca di Beppo and Brio Italian Kitchen, to smaller footprints with new concepts like Buca Express and Brio Vino.
The company said the brand extensions will cater to non-traditional settings with more compact footprints. Ellison also plans to introduce innovative approaches to the food and beverage industry, including a pizza vending machine, the company said.
“I am eager to contribute to the growth of this remarkable organization and spearhead the development of innovative concepts for our legacy brands that will resonate with the future generation of consumers,” Ellison said.
Earl Enterprises provides marketing and operations expertise in the restaurant and hospitality sectors. Along with Planet Hollywood and its affiliates, Earl Enterprises oversees marketing strategies and operations for 200 restaurants in 32 states and internationally.
Earl Enterprises’ brands include Asian Street Eats, Bertucci’s, Bravo Italian Kitchen, Brio Italian Grille, Buca di Beppo, Café Hollywood, Chicken Guy, Planet Hollywood, Tequila Taqueria, Seaside on the Pier, and other brands.
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