CHICAGO – A new venture with the backing of decades of accomplishments in the restaurant industry has been created to fulfill America’s insatiable appetite for elevated experiences and food quality at price points that won’t break the bank.
 
Craveworthy Brands (Craveworthy) has launched to meet this undeniable and increasingly widening need. Its arrival onto the restaurant industry landscape comes as demand grows to offer consumers and restaurant franchise owners concepts that operate at peak efficiency and unbeatable value.
 
Gregg Majewski, current CEO of Mongolian Concepts (Genghis Grill, BD’s Mongolian Grill and Flat Top Grill) and formerly the COO, CFO and CEO for Jimmy John’s, is behind Craveworthy, establishing its talented leadership team and building out an impressive initial collection of brands. He partnered with newly-created merchant banking division of FG Financial Group to form the company and support its growth.
 
“I’ve seen the restaurant world from so many perspectives over the years, and it is clear to me that the industry requires a new way of thinking given the new cost structure and commoditized experiences out there now. That’s why we created Craveworthy. We have a clean slate but a ton of relevant industry ‘muscle power’ to come out of the gates strong and sustain it. The new company clearly has the potential to provide many pathways for our employees and franchisees to live and achieve the American Dream,” said Majewski, who founded Craveworthy and serves as its CEO. “The resources we’re bringing together are capable of creating remarkable value for consumers and restaurant operators.”
 
At the onset, Craveworthy emerges with four early-lifecycle-stage brands. The diversified set of concepts includes two brands it acquired and two that Majewski and his team have created and launched in recent months. The two brands acquired have already shown notable strength in their respective categories and are aligned with the company’s desire to offer an unmatched proposition for consumers and franchisees.
 
One is Wing It On!, the 12-unit brand with a successful franchising initiative underway that Craveworthy acquired this January. Focused on giving fans a truly exceptional wing experience that starts with fresh, never-frozen classic wings tossed in authentically-prepared flavors, Wing It On! was named to the 2022 Inc. 5000 list of America’s “Fastest-Growing Private Companies” and earned the title of “America’s #1 Buffalo Sauce” at the 2022 U.S. Chicken Wing Eating Championship. Previously, Wing It On! was named to QSR Magazine’s annual “40/40” List, as well as Franchise Dictionary’s annual “100 Game Changers” list. Its current 12-restaurant footprint includes markets such as Atlanta, Long Island, New Jersey and Orlando, with a second opening in the market shortly. The brand originated in Connecticut, where it has three locations currently. Founder Matt Ensero, as well as other key company leaders, will remain with the company and become shared resources for Craveworthy. Ensero will serve as the brand’s President.
 
The other brand acquired is The Budlong, a celebrated and widely publicized Chicago-based Nashville hot chicken concept with three traditional locations, plus one in a food hall and another in a ghost kitchen format. All locations are operating in the Chicago market.
 
While franchising The Budlong and Wing It On! are top initial priorities, Craveworthy is also focused on growing the two brands it has created for its diversified portfolio – Krafted Burger Bar + Tap (Krafted) and Lucky Cat (Lucky Cat) Poke Company. Initial focus will be on solidifying existing operations and developing additional corporate-owned restaurants.
 
Krafted recently opened to large crowds in Bolingbrook, Illinois at the highly-trafficked Promenade mall. The globally-inspired burger joint bringing a fresh twist on American classics will open its second location in Elmhurst, Illinois in the coming days.
 
Lucky Cat will soon open its first location in Oak Brook, Illinois at Oakbrook Center during Q1 2023. Also in the early part of this year, Lucky Cat will launch menu availability through 55 ghost-kitchen units nationwide. The brand offers fast and delicious poke using the freshest ingredients available and takes flavor cues from all over the globe to serve consumers poke bowls unlike ever before.
 
“There’s no denying we’re placing our flag in the ground,” said Chef Robert Kabakoff, a world-renowned culinary visionary and Chicagoland native who together with Majewski is leading menu innovation for all Craveworthy brands. “Our portfolio of brands will benefit from incredible shared resources. Given the changing restaurant world, now is the time for a team like Craveworthy’s to take its place in the industry.”
 
Along with Majewski and Kabakoff, executives formerly with leading roles at McDonald’s, Roti, First Watch, Giordano’s Pizza and Einstein Bros. Bagels are all part of the Craveworthy team.
 
They include:

·       Neil Quinn, CFO
·       Lori Cominsky, VP of Operations
·       Blake Johnson, VP of Marketing
·       Justin Egan, VP of Marketing – Franchise Development & Digital Strategy
·       Becca McIntyre, VP of Culinary and Supply Chain
·       Jason Levinson, VP of Technology and IT
·       Cassie Miller, Sr. Dir. Of Training and Operations
·       Rich Guckel, VP of Development
·       Kristin Albert, Dir. of Operations 

To learn more about each of the leadership team members, visit: https://www.craveworthybrands.com/our-leadership. Collectively, they bring nearly 200 years of restaurant industry experience to the company.
 
For more information about Craveworthy, visit CraveworthyBrands.com.
 
About Craveworthy

Craveworthy, the parent company of emerging casual and fast casual dining brands Wing It On!, The Budlong, Krafted Burger + Tap and Lucky Cat Poke Company, is dedicated to invigorating and supercharging legacy brands while nurturing and growing emerging brands. The company brings together diverse, but complementary, brands, and an accomplished leadership team. In addition to running and growing great restaurant brands, Craveworthy is active in the communities it serves and creates unique career opportunities for its team members. Bridging the distinctive individuality of its brands with a shared culture and spirit of collaboration, the company’s goal is to create truly unique and craveworthy experiences every day, every shift and at every turn. Learn more about Craveworthy and its brands at CraveworthyBrands.com.

Search