Leading Restaurant Management Company Appoints Bud Culp as General Counsel
Front Burner Brands, Inc., restaurant management company for The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., Burger 21 and GrillSmith, headquartered in Tampa, Fla., announced today it has hired Bud Culp as General Counsel. In this newly created position, Culp will provide guidance to the company’s executive leadership team and will be responsible for all legal aspects related to the business, including all franchise disclosure and compliance matters, while mitigating risk on behalf of Front Burner Brands.
“We are pleased to welcome Bud to the Front Burner Brands team,” said Bob Johnston, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors for Front Burner Brands. “Bud’s vast franchise experience, combined with his leadership and guidance, will further support our company’s growth plans as we continue to expand into national and international markets.”
Culp brings more than 25 years of experience in business and franchise law to Front Burner Brands. Prior to opening his own franchise and litigation firm in 2013, Culp served as partner and chairman of the franchise and distribution section at Moye White LLP, the premier franchise law firm in the Rocky Mountain West. During his tenure, Culp advised numerous national franchise concepts, including Taco Bell, Quiznos and Comfort Dental, and also assisted emerging franchises to expand into multiple states.
“I am thrilled to be joining Front Burner Brands at such a dynamic time in the company’s history,” said Culp. “The creation of this new position is a testament to the recent growth and success of its three restaurant concepts. I look forward to working with the executive team to build a robust internal legal department that further supports its brands’ development.”
Front Burner Brands’ diverse group of restaurant concepts sets it apart from industry standards as each brand strives to provide top-notch service, the freshest, highest quality ingredients and a unique dining experience for its guests. The Melting Pot, which operates 135 restaurants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and has more than 25 locations in development internationally, is the world’s premier fondue restaurant and a leading polished casual dining franchise. Burger 21, a new better burger franchise, has 13 locations open in six states and more than 20 in development across the country. Furthermore, refined-casual concept GrillSmith offers hand-crafted food and drink at its five locations in the Tampa Bay area.
To learn more about ownership opportunities with The Melting Pot and Burger 21, contact Ashley Pollard, franchise development manager for Front Burner Brands, at 813-425-6252 or apollard@frontburnerbrands.com or visit www.meltingpotfranchise.com and www.burger21franchise.com.
Front Burner Brands is a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Fla. It is affiliated with the corporate owners of and its management services extended to The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., founded in 1975 with 135 locations in North America and more than 25 locations currently in development, Burger 21 with 13 locations open in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina and Virginia, and more than 20 in development in eight states, and GrillSmith with five locations in the Tampa Bay area. For more information, visit http://www.frontburnerbrands.com.
