Over the years, Rutter’s has been a regular destination on Philip Santini’s journeys between New York City and Pennsylvania.
Now, the convenience-store chain is his employer.
The new senior director of foodservice and advertising for the York, Pennsylvania-based company told CSP what drew him to Rutter’s were stores that were well prepared to accommodate a large volume of customers and consistently exceeded his expectations.
“As someone working in the foodservice industry, I have greatly appreciated their high service standards, diverse product offerings, commitment to quality, affordability and innovative approach, among other things,” he said.
Prior to joining Rutter’s, New Jersey native Santini played a pivotal role in launching the quick-service restaurant (QSR) program at the Tin Building in New York City with world-renowned Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and the Howard Hughes Corp., Rutter’s said. Santini also served as the general manager for Eataly, overseeing operations across nine locations and contributing to the development of QSR concepts.
“As someone who is relatively new to the convenience-store industry, I was pleasantly surprised by the remarkable quality of the foodservice offerings and the boundless array of customizable options available to consumers,” Santini said. “The realm of foodservice, regardless of the location, is a dynamic and rapidly evolving industry that has experienced significant expansion over the years.”
Alongside this growth, the industry has embraced diversity and innovation in menu offerings tailored to individual preferences as the benchmark for excellence, Santini said.
- Rutter’s is No. 82 on CSP’s 2023 Top 202 ranking of U.S. convenience-store chains by store count.
“I believe the combination of customer curiosity and the perceived value of Rutter’s menu items, underscored by their exceptional quality, has played a pivotal role in driving this trend,” he said.
That quality is seen in awards that Rutter’s foodservice program has won, including being named to CSP’s 20 Great Coffee Programs for 2023.
Santini holds an associate’s degree in culinary arts and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, along with an MBA in global business-organizational leadership.
“With an impressive background in the culinary and marketing fields, Philip brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this new role,” said Rutter’s, which recently won CSP’s Mystery Shop award for the fourth time. The c-store chain also recently brought back Spam to its menu and rolled out three limited-time menu items: Kickin’ Chicken and Waffles, The Donut Breakfast and Grilled Mac & Cheese.
“We’re thrilled to have Philip Santini join the Rutter’s team,” said Scott Hartman, president and CEO of Rutter’s. “His extensive experience in growing multiple foodservice operations, coupled with his proven leadership abilities, make him a valuable addition to our organization. I’m confident that Philip will bring fresh ideas and innovative strategies to our foodservice and advertising teams.”
In the foodservice portion of his new position, Santini said, “We are continually exploring ways to enhance our offerings and firmly believe that our best innovations are still ahead of us.”
Rutter’s has earned a reputation as a trailblazer, catering to a diverse range of guests, he said, adding that one advantage c-stores have over quick-service restaurants is that many QSR concepts often are associated with specific meal periods.
“In contrast, convenience stores offer the flexibility of providing what you desire, precisely when you desire it, making our offerings accessible to everyone,” he said.
Rutter’s, a privately held chain of convenience stores, operates 84 locations in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia.