DALLAS -- Corner Bakery Cafe and Il Fornaio have announced that convenience-store and restaurant-industry veteran Frank Paci has been named chief executive officer of both companies. Paci assumes the position previously held by Mike Hislop, who will remain chairman.
“We are excited to welcome Frank as the new leader of Corner Bakery Cafe and Il Fornaio,” said Hislop. “Frank is a highly experienced executive and brings a broad range of experience in strategic planning, operations, franchise development and finance. His passion, talent and strong leadership will be invaluable as we continue to move our brands forward.”
Paci is an accomplished executive with more than 25 years of experience leading retail and foodservice brands. He most recently served as president and CEO at Einstein Noah Restaurant Group Inc. He previously was president and CEO of McAlister’s Deli fast-casual brand, and was executive vice president and chief financial officer at the 1,500-location convenience-store chain The Pantry Inc.
Paci left The Pantry in September 2010 amid a series of management changes over a period of several years. Laval, Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. acquired the chain in early in 2015.
Prior to The Pantry, Paci held senior leadership finance and franchise development positions at Blockbuster, Pizza Hut and Burger King.
Corner Bakery Cafe is a fast-casual restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to guests in 22 states and Washington, D.C. Established in 1991, Corner Bakery Cafe restaurants are owned and operated by CBC Restaurant Corp., Dallas, with more than 190 company-owned and franchised locations around the country.
Founded in Italy in 1972 and based in Corte Madera, California, Il Fornaio owns and operates twenty-two full-service Italian restaurants in California, Denver, Seattle, Las Vegas and Reston, Va. Using the fresh ingredient and traditional cooking methods, Il Fornaio offers a wide variety of authentic Italian food paired with wines and cocktails.
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