Kitchen United, the GV-backed start-up creating a new way for restaurant brands to expand via off-premises optimized kitchen centers, announced several senior appointments to its operations team to support its national rollout and expansion plans. As Kitchen United embarks on its plans to open 15 kitchen centers by the end of 2019, the Company is pleased to welcome the following new team members who will help facilitate this growth:
Carl Orsbourn has been appointed Vice President of Operations and is responsible for P&L accountability for each of the kitchen centers, the smooth operation of facilities, the development, management and success of a large staff and the successful opening of new facilities. He and his team have direct responsibility of ensuring excellent service, communication and support to delivery service drivers, KU’s restaurant members and front of house retail consumers. Mr. Orsbourn previously was the convenience retail director at BP (ampm) where he was responsible for product marketing, supply chain, proprietary product & offer development activity for a chain of 1,000 convenience store locations. He holds an MBA from London School of Business, and a BA in Management from University of Lincoln.
Robbye Schroeder Kirkpatrick has been named Vice President of National Field Development, where she is responsible for aligning the Company’s real estate objectives with its overall business goals. Prior to her role with Kitchen United, Ms. Kirkpatrick was a Director for Newmark Grubb Knight Frank in Houston. She started her real estate career at Trammel Crow Company as a Commercial Tenant Representative in Dallas and Los Angeles. Robbye received her BBA in Marketing from Texas Tech University and her MED from Loyola Marymount University.
Jimmy Penson has joined as Executive Director of National Rollout and is responsible for all phases of construction and project delivery. Prior to his role with Kitchen United, Mr. Penson was a Senior Managing Director at Newmark Knight Frank. He holds a BS in building construction from Georgia Institute of Technology and has over 25 years of experience in construction, real estate development and program management.
“As we continue to aggressively expand our national footprint in 2019, it is vital to have a strong operations team to ensure the strategic selection and overall success of every location,” says Jim Collins, CEO of Kitchen United. “Carl, Robbye, and Jimmy each have unique experiences that collectively contribute meaningfully in fulfilling our mission, which is to fuel the growth of leading restaurant brands’ off-premise business. We are thrilled to welcome these leaders to the Kitchen United family.”
Kitchen United offers restaurant operators a unique opportunity to boost delivery operations or enter a new market without the high cost and resources needed for a new build, as consumers increasingly look to delivery and pick-up as convenient ways to get their next meal. The Company’s kitchen centers each house 10 to 20 restaurant partners, helping restaurant operators streamline off-premise pickup and delivery without disrupting dine-in customers. Kitchen United also provides its restaurant partners with consumer and operational insights in order to customize their business to best meet local demand, improve productivity and drive increased revenue.
