Hai Hospitality announced today that industry leader and Front Burner Society founder Randy DeWitt has joined their board. The seven-member Hai Hospitality board was seated in 2016 to steer the key Hai brands, Uchi, Uchiko, Uchibā and Loro, through their next phase of growth. DeWitt joins David Swinghamer — a culinary industry veteran known for growing brands like Shake Shack, Snooze, and Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises — as a member of the Hai Hospitality board.
With a knack for creating distinctive concepts, Randy DeWitt brings 27 years of experience scaling over a dozen successful restaurant brands as founder and former CEO of FB Society. FB Society is nationally recognized for developing restaurant concepts spanning the fast casual, casual and polished-casual dining segments. The company currently operates nine brands across the country including Whiskey Cake, Ida Claire, The Ranch, Haywire, Sixty Vines, Mexican Sugar, Velvet Taco, Son of a Butcher and Nashville food hall concept Assembly Hall through its food hall division, The Food Hall Co.
“I have been following the Hai Hospitality trajectory as a fan for many years and they believe, as I do, in breaking the mold of traditional dining to create new and interesting culinary experiences,” says DeWitt. “I am looking forward to joining the board and being a part of such an incredible team of talented industry pros as they enter this exciting growth phase.”
“Randy DeWitt’s track record of mindfully growing brands and keeping the guest at the center of the experience fits perfectly with our goals,” says Hai CEO and board member Tony Montero. “We are really fortunate to have him join the board as we explore new markets and expand our footprint.”
Hai’s mission is to create hospitality experiences that matter through extraordinary food, impeccable service, and thoughtful design. In 2020, Hai received a majority investment from an affiliate of Denver-based KSL Capital Partners, a leading hospitality investment firm known for partnering with brands that honor culture, drive innovation and foster creativity. Hai continues expansion of its acclaimed restaurant brands with the opening of Uchi in Miami in January 2021, Loro Dallas in July 2021, and Loro and Uchiko brands scheduled to open in Houston in the coming months. Hai is also targeting three to four new locations for 2022.
