Former TopGolf CEO takes top spot at Nothing Bundt Cakes
A multi-unit and franchise veteran has taken over the reins of Nothing Bundt Cakes.
The nation's largest specialty cake bakery brand appointed Dolf Berle as CEO, effective immediately. He succeeds Sarah Spiegel, managing director of Roark Capital, who served as interim CEO during the selection process. (Roark acquired the brand in May 2021 from Levine Leichtman Capital Partners.)
Most recently, Berle served as CEO of Lindblad Expeditions, a global adventure travel operator. Prior to that, he served as CEO of Topgolf Entertainment Group, from 2018 – 2021.
From 2011 to 2016, Berle was president and COO of Dave & Buster’s. He also served in leadership roles at Lucky Strike Lanes and House of Blues Entertainment.
In May, Nothing Bundt Cakes opened its 500th location in Shawnee, Kan. The Dallas-based company, which has been averaging eight new openings per month, is on track to open 100 bakeries this year. Its products are hand-crafted and baked on-site with ingredients and proprietary formulations distributed by its in-house distribution operation.
"During his time at both Topgolf and Dave & Busters, Dolf led efforts that nearly doubled unit count and increased average unit volume by double digits, and that growth mindset is key to what we want to achieve at Nothing Bundt Cakes," said Spiegel. "We are confident that Dolf's leadership experience will help Nothing Bundt Cakes accelerate the brand's fantastic growth trajectory and continue to drive the brand's outstanding bakery profitability."
Nothing Bundt Cakes is Roark’s 29th restaurant investment and 92nd franchise/multi-location brand. The company’s current investments include Inspire Brands (parent company of Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, Rusty Taco and Sonic Drive-In) and Focus Brands (parent company of Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, Moe’s Southwest Grill, McAlister’s Deli and Schlotzsky’s).