Sonny's BBQ taps franchise, Dunkin' veteran as chief growth officer
Sonny’s BBQ has added to its C-suite as it looks to expand its store count.
The Florida-based barbecue chain has hired George McAllan as its new chief growth officer. Before joining Sonny's, McAllan spent the past five years serving as chief operations officer with two different franchisee groups, Quality Restaurant Group and Southeast Enterprise Holdings, LLC, leading up to 350 restaurants during his tenure.
Previously, McAllan spent 24 years in a variety of roles with Dunkin' Brands, including as international VP responsible for 4,000 Dunkin' and Baskin Robbins restaurants in South Korea, Japan, China and Latin America.
"George's extensive experience leading operations for some of America's most-loved restaurant brands is an incredible asset to our team as we continue to expand our footprint and serve our famous BBQ to fans across the South and beyond," said Jamie Yarmuth, Sonny's BBQ CEO. "George will serve an important role overseeing the systemwide operations to support the growth and profitability of our brand in the coming years. I look forward to working hand-in-hand with him as we continue to strengthen and develop all facets of operations at Sonny's BBQ."
Founded in 1968, Sonny’s BBQ currently operates nearly 100 locations across the Southeast. The company says growth will be a “core pillar” of its agenda in 2025, with McAllan playing a key role in attracting qualified franchise candidates.
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"Sonny's BBQ is a brand I have long admired and loved for its commitment to kindness, Southern culture, and, of course, its incredible menu of slow-smoked BBQ with all the fixins'," said McAllan. "I look forward to supporting the entire Sonny's team and share our commitment to providing a great customer experience. It's an exciting time to join Sonny's BBQ and I am proud to be a part of this great and storied restaurant brand."
