The former head of Atlanta-based Arby’s Restaurant Group is now a Burger King franchisee.
Tom Garrett, who was president and chief executive officer of Arby’s until leaving the position in January 2010, has acquired 42 Burger King restaurants throughout metro under his new company, GPS Hospitality, it was announced Tuesday.
Garrett formed GPS in June 2012 and the company’s first day of business was Oct. 19. GPS will focus on growing the Burger King brand, with plans to reach 100 restaurants in the next five years.
“It’s a top-tier brand that is reinventing itself and we want to be a part of it,” Garret said in a release. “Burger King restaurants’ new 20/20 building design and the many new and improved products on the menu make it the best opportunity in the industry; and the competition can’t touch the Whopper sandwich.”
Garrett was named Arby’s president and CEO in September 2008, following the formation that year of Wendy’s/Arby’s Group. Wendy’s separated from the company and returned to its Ohio roots after Arby’s was sold to Atlanta-based private equity firm Roark Capital Group in mid-2011.
