Daytime Café hires VP of Franchising and VP of Design and Construction
First Watch announced today that it has added two restaurant-industry veterans to its dynamic leadership team. The leading breakfast, brunch and lunch concept has hired David Gonzalez as vice president of franchising and Danny Foster as vice president of design and construction. Gonzalez and Foster join First Watch with a combined 39 years of industry experience.
Gonzalez joins the First Watch team after serving as vice president of franchising at Le Duff America, where he was responsible for franchise recruitment for La Madeleine and Bruegger’s Bagels. From 2009 to 2014, Gonzalez served as executive vice president of outsourcing firm Franchise Dynamics, helping the company earn a spot on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing small businesses. At First Watch, Gonzalez will be responsible for developing new franchise partnerships and fostering the brand’s current franchise relationships.
First Watch’s new vice president of design and construction, Danny Foster, joins the team after spending 15 years in purchasing, construction and development at award-winning brands like Outback Steakhouse and Bonefish Grill. Danny will lead First Watch’s construction team and oversee design and development for both remodels and new restaurant openings.
“We couldn’t have asked for two better candidates to join the First Watch team during a period of incredible change and growth for the company,” said Ken Pendery, First Watch president and CEO. “Danny and David bring extensive experience to our team and will undoubtedly be valuable assets to our organization going forward.”
First Watch announced the hiring of Gonzalez and Foster on the heels of its biggest acquisition yet. The breakfast, brunch and lunch leader in May acquired 114 The Egg & I Restaurants, almost doubling the company’s size and reach.
For First Watch franchise information, please visit http://www.firstwatch.com/franchise/.
First Watch specializes in award-winning, made-to-order Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch. A recipient of more than 200 “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch offers traditional favorites, such as omelets, pancakes, sandwiches and salads, and unique specialty items like Quinoa Power Bowls and the Chickichanga. Just recently, First Watch was named a 2015 Top Consumer Pick by Nation’s Restaurant News and has received other recognition including being named a 2013 “Next 20” Emerging Brand by Nation’s Restaurant News and a 2014 Top Franchise Value by FSR Magazine. First Watch is the largest and fastest-growing daytime-only restaurant concept in the U.S. with more than 260 restaurants in 26 states, including more than 130 First Watch restaurants, 114 The Egg & I restaurants, 20 The Good Egg restaurants and one Bread & Company restaurant in Nashville (with another one under construction). For more information, visit firstwatch.com.
