Fresh Kitchen has appointed Matt Livingston as Chief Development Officer, bringing restaurant real estate expertise from his tenure at First Watch. Livingston's hire signals the fast-casual chain's push to expand its footprint across new markets.
Livingston spent years managing real estate strategy and market development at First Watch, the daytime dining concept known for breakfast and lunch offerings. His experience navigating site selection, lease negotiations, and market entry positions him to accelerate Fresh Kitchen's growth trajectory.
The appointments extend beyond Livingston. Fresh Kitchen also recruited an operations executive to strengthen internal systems and restaurant management protocols, though the specific name was not disclosed. Both hires address critical functions as the chain scales. Development teams handle everything from scouting real estate to analyzing demographic data and competitive landscapes. Operations executives ensure consistency across locations, manage supply chains, and optimize labor scheduling.
Fresh Kitchen competes in the crowded fast-casual segment alongside brands like Cava, Sweetgreen, and Dig. Success in this space demands tight operational discipline and smart real estate decisions. A single poor location choice derails a unit's economics. Conversely, landing prime real estate in high-traffic zones drives unit volumes and returns on investment.
Livingston's move from First Watch to Fresh Kitchen reflects broader industry patterns. Proven executives hop between concepts, bringing playbooks refined through experience. First Watch has built a reputation for disciplined expansion and strong unit economics in the breakfast and lunch niche. Fresh Kitchen appears eager to replicate similar methodologies while building its own identity.
The timing matters. Restaurant chains face headwinds from labor inflation, elevated ingredient costs, and cautious consumer spending. Growth-stage concepts must balance aggressive expansion with financial prudence. Hiring seasoned development and operations talent suggests Fresh Kitchen has secured capital and identified viable markets for expansion.
Restaurant watchers will track whether Fresh Kitchen can leverage these appointments to gain meaningful share in the