Justin Kraus

Chief Investment Officer @Fourteen Foods

STRATEGIC PORTFOLIO EXPANSION: Leads all aspects of real estate development strategy and process, setting up and locking in aligned opportunities to fulfill the company’s outlined growth strategy. Acquisitions & New Store Development: Expanded the company portfolio from 48 units to 235 restaurants through acquisitions and new store development. Key Milestone Achievement: Proposed and delivered on a strategy that helped achieve a Top 50 Largest Restaurant Groups in the U.S. designation. Proactive Analysis & Strategic Planning: Crafted and executed a long-term strategic plan to restructure debt allocation and make the company independent from its real estate. RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT & STAFF DEVELOPMENT: Division Development & Business Planning: Develops and executes a tactical business plan for each division, performs quarterly business reviews, and ensures goals are met/exceeded. Diverse Departmental Leadership Exposure: Recruits and retains top performers for multiple divisions. Expertise and leadership experience in legal, construction, finance, IT, and vendor mgmt. Staff Development & Mentoring: Mentors and fosters the growth of multiple high-performers to increase retention, build a strong talent pipeline, and give back to the organization. Relationship Management: Manages and develops relationships with existing franchisees, landlords, developers, and vendors to optimize new store growth, contributing to a 500% growth rate. NEGOTIATION & COST SAVINGS GENERATION: Partnership Development: Strategically develops/maintains new and existing business partnerships and negotiates/renegotiates all service contracts; Generated $40M+ in cost savings. Complex Contract Negotiation: Regularly executes (~20x/year) complex contract negotiations that preserve a good working relationship with other parties. Budget Management: Establishes company budgets to effectively distribute funds.