Former Focus Brands Executive Kat Cole Joins Nextbite as Advisor

Nextbite’s brand includes Thrilled Cheese developed exclusively for IHOP. / Photo credit: Nextbite

Kat Cole, former president and COO of Focus Brands, will join virtual branding company Nextbite as an advisor.

Having become one of the industry’s most prominent executives during his tenure at Focus, Cole is currently President and COO of Athletic Greens, a consumer nutrition company. She will join her growing Nextbite, offering her expertise in running consumer brands and scaling companies.

Founded in 2017, Denver-based Nextbite develops delivery-only restaurant brands and licenses restaurants to market from their existing kitchens.

Cole’s role will include helping the company create a healthy and innovative delivery brand, NextBite said in a press release.

“Technology is reshaping restaurants,” Cole said in a statement. “Nextbite and its various brands help brick-and-mortar restaurants leverage existing assets, drive financial growth and reach more customers.”

Cole has nearly 30 years of restaurant experience, including long-term positions at Hooters of America and Focus, owner of brands such as Jamba and Auntie Anne’s. She joined Cinnabon in 2010 as president and led the franchise’s revitalization of her business.

Nextbite CEO Alex Canter said in a statement: “She understands what it takes to keep customers coming back and how to build and manage a brand that aligns with the needs and trends of restaurants and consumers.”

Cole is the latest celebrity restaurant leader to join Nextbite. Former Red Robin CEO Denny Post began consulting the company last September and was named co-president in June.

The addition comes amid some big changes at the company this year, including two layoffs to accommodate what Kanter called a “changing restaurant market.”

As people return to restaurants and delivery sales languish, the future of delivery-only brands is in question. But Nextbite leaders are enthusiastic about this model.

“Creative and profitable revenue streams are a perennial need for brick-and-mortar restaurants,” Post said in a recent interview.

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