Restaurant industry veteran Patrick Kirk has joined Irving-based Fuzzy’s Taco Shop as chief marketing officer.
Kirk previously was vice president of bar and beverage for Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar. The company said that at Fuzzy’s, he will continue to define the Fuzzy’s Taco Shop experience as he develops and delivers strategic direction across all aspects of marketing including advertising, digital marketing, and culinary and beverage innovation.
“Over the past eight years, Patrick has disrupted the casual dining industry through stand-out marketing campaigns at Applebee’s,” Fuzzy’s President Paul Damico said in a statement. “His ability to create strategic platforms and forge strong brand and franchisee partnerships with a focus on creating buzzworthy and fun guest experiences is undeniable. I look forward to the new expertise and creative thinking he’ll bring to our talented team.”
Kirk has more than two decades of experience in the restaurant industry. He was responsible for creating industry-leading beverage programs and building trusted relationships at national brands, including Applebee’s, Tony Roma’s, and Buffalo Wild Wings.
In his previous role, Kirk led the vision and strategy for Applebee’s bar and beverage experience across restaurants nationwide, growing his marketing department into a substantial revenue driver for the business.
Loving the Fuzzy’s attitude, values, and vibe
“I love Fuzzy’s badass attitude and strong values,” Kirk said in a statement. “After Dine Brands acquired Fuzzy’s in 2022, I’ve had the chance to get to know the team and have been impressed by the way the brand brings its Baja vibe to life and connects with guests. I can’t wait to dive in further with the team to unlock the brand’s marketing potential.”
Kirk is a member of Millennium Advisory Board, a collection of industry leaders helping shape the future of on-premise beverage, Fuzzy’s said. He also has served on other industry councils including the VIBE Conference and the Bar & Nightclub Expo.
Founded in 2003 in Fort Worth, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is a fast-casual-plus restaurant serving Mexican favorites with a splash of Baja, the company said. As of December, 44 franchise groups operated 131 Fuzzy’s restaurants in 18 states within the United States and it had one company-owned restaurant in Texas, totaling 132 restaurants.
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop restaurants are franchised by affiliates of Pasadena, California-based Dine Brands Global Inc.
Get on the list.
Dallas Innovates, every day.
Sign up to keep your eye on what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth, every day.
R E A D N E X T
-
While some experts were worrying about AI's threat of human extinction, Dallas-based Velvet Taco embraced the potential for ChatGPT-4 to do something even more formidable: come up with a tasty taco idea. See what's in the AI taco creation—and how it's helping Velvet Taco "deliver the unexpected."
-
Plano-based CloudMellow said the acquisition will further strengthen its portfolio of award-winning digital agencies by tapping Idea Marketing Group's design, marketing, UI/UX, and software development capabilities.
-
In July, we wrote about Dallas-based Velvet Taco launching a new “Chat GPTaco” as part of its weekly taco feature. Now using AI to help create menu items seems to be catching on nationwide. According to Business Insider, more restaurants—from local spots to big national chains—are taking the AI plunge.
-
Plano-based Ribbon Communications Inc. announced that industry executive Joni Roberts has been named chief marketing officer, senior vice president, and that she will run the company's global marketing strategy, marketing organization, and investor relations. She will report to CEO Bruce McClelland. The CEO says Roberts' wide-ranging experience, together with tech acumen, a deep understanding of its business, and customer focus will be a tremendous asset to Ribbon. "Improving brand awareness amongst customers and investors is a key objective as we execute on our strategy to grow our business and establish Ribbon as a major networking technology provider," McClelland said in…
-
Hope Leigh Marketing Group, a Dallas-based women-owned agency specializing in talent attraction, recruitment marketing, and employer branding, has added Carly Sparpana as head of client services. Sparpana will lead the team of global account coordinators and managers with the goal of continuing to expand the agency while also offering each client the hands-on service to which they are accustomed. "Carrie Corbin and I began HLMG in 2020 in the wake of a complete change in the workforce and talent landscape," HLMG co-founding Partner Amanda Thompson Buffington said in a statement. "Our goal when we founded the agency was to marry…
