Healthy Habits has appointed Kate Lucas as general manager in a move to strengthen its growth to 50 stores in 2008.
With over 17 years of marketing and management experience across a broad range of industries including being general manager for an automotive franchise, Lucas said she wanted to focus on expanding the company’s franchise network, grow brand awareness and improve profitability.
“I am looking forward to being instrumental in helping the business achieve its long-term goal of operating 100 stores in the next three years,” she said. “It is a strong dynamic brand and we are putting in place the structure to support a business of this size.
“I will be focused on increasing brand exposure and consistency in the marketplace, as well as complementing the operations department by highlighting the importance of system compliance.”
Healthy Habits director and founder Katherine Sampson said Lucas’ appointment would allow her to concentrate on the long-term strategic direction of the business.
“Kate’s arrival will allow me to work more on the business than in it and provides me with another senior strategist to guide the team and business into the future,” she said.
“Kate will be integral to our expansion as her experience will help us to leverage our brand and address the challenge of securing franchisees in a full employment market. She is a welcomed edition to the team.”
Lucas said Sampson’s passion for the business was one of the reasons why she accepted the job.
“Katherine Sampson is a dynamo and her enthusiasm and drive to succeed is contagious and something the franchisees aspire to.
“This provides a great platform and culture for growth and we will certainly capture a larger chunk of the healthy fast food movement this year by establishing our presence in every state.”