Fast-growing Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has reorganized its leadership and shaken up its corporate structure in order to grow even faster.
The 76-year-old, Dallas-based franchise company, the nation’s largest barbecue chain, has formed an entity called Dickey’s Capital Group Inc. to serve as the parent company of all business entities under the Dickey’s name. Roland Dickey Jr., previously CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants Inc., has been appointed chief executive of the new entity and will serve as executive manager of assets. Dickey is the grandson of company founder Travis Dickey.
Dickey’s wife, Laura Rea Dickey, has taken over as CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants after serving as chief information officer for eight years. In addition, Renee Roozen has been promoted to president of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants. Roozen joined the company in 2015 as vice president of operations.
The new structure and leadership will better equip the franchise for more rapid expansion, Dickey’s spokesman Bryce Nayden said. The family-run company currently has nearly 600 locations in 44 states and is opening about 12 stores a month. Dickey’s plans to expand internationally in 2017, Nayden added, opening two stores per month abroad in addition to a dozen per month domestically.
Dickey’s Capital Group is a family office managing the assets of the Dickey family and a few affiliated parties, Nayden said. Dickey’s Capital Group has an estimated value of $400 million. Other business entities under Dickey’s Capital are expected to grow in the fields of food-service manufacturing, distribution, and technology.
