Perella Leverages 20-Plus Years of Experience with Franchisors Including GoTo Foods and Duck Donuts
Taco John’s, a leading Mexican quick-service restaurant franchise, has named Tom Perella vice president of technology. Perella’s 20-plus years of experience includes leading technology initiatives for GoTo Foods and Duck Donuts.
Perella got his start in franchising as a college student rolling pretzels at Auntie Anne’s, owned by GoTo Foods (formerly Focus Brands). He went on to serve in operations and technology leadership positions with GoTo Foods, which also owns Cinnabon, Carvel, Jamba, Moe’s Southwest Grill, McAlister’s Deli and Schlotzky’s. During his tenure on Auntie Anne’s corporate team, Perella worked with Taco John’s current CEO and President Heather Neary, and said he was excited to join her in his new position.
“Taco John’s is a unique brand that has a long history and very passionate franchisees, with some being second or third generation. The culture is very similar to what I experienced at the beginning of my career, and it’s amazing to have the opportunity to experience that again,” Perella said.
A Strong Leadership Team
In addition to Perella’s appointment, Taco John’s announced naming Damian Hanft vice president of human resources and promoting of Kristin Nuss to general counsel and corporate secretary.
Neary said Perella and his colleagues are the ideal leaders for the brand’s next phase of growth. “As we continue to scale strategically, we are fine-tuning our operations to ensure franchisees are set up for success from day one. It’s critical that we have the right people in the right roles — leaders who are fully aligned with our core values and mission such as these three,” Neary said.
The leadership changes come amid the rollout of Taco John’s Path to Ownership designed to position franchisee candidates for long-term success and its optimized business model, solidifying the brand’s franchisee support system and ensuring sustainable growth for the brand and investors.
Perella said continually evaluating Taco John’s presence in the digital space and staying abreast of technological advancements are key to maintaining its leadership position among QSR franchises. “We’re finding new ways to reach our guests and attract new ones. We’re utilizing technologies such as self-order kiosks in our restaurants and voice AI in our drive-thrus.”
About Taco John’s
Founded in 1969 in Cheyenne, Wyo., Taco John’s operates and franchises almost 350 restaurants across 22 states. The brand’s signature menu items include Potato Olés, meat and potato burritos, Mexican doughnut bites and super nachos.