Four Foods Group moving forward with female president
Shauna Smith, president of Four Foods Group.
Shauna Smith, president of Four Foods Group, participates in a business panel in 2018.
Shauna Smith, president of Four Foods Group, participates in a business panel in 2018.
Women continue to make strides within the business community, and the newest president of a growing Utah brand is leading the way.
Shauna Smith recently took the helm as president of Four Foods Group, a restaurant investment, development, operations and management company founded in 2008 and based in American Fork.
While her husband, Andrew Smith, CEO of Four Foods, is the more well-known face behind the brand, Shauna Smith is a co-founder of the company and has been with the brand since the beginning.
“Ten years ago, I was the one that started us on this adventure,” she said in a recent phone interview. “Andrew and I had moved to a place where there was nowhere to eat, and I wanted a place to go.”
At the time, there were no restaurants in the area along State Route 92 in the Highland/Lehi area. Development of the new Smith’s Marketplace grocery store and other retail there was still on paper. So Shauna and Andrew Smith decided to put in a Kneaders Bakery and Cafe there on SR 92 to fuel her need for a place to eat out.
Initially, she was just the operational manager at that one location, but she and her husband saw an opportunity to expand the Kneaders brand. Together, they introduced systems and processes for the eateries’ operations so the brand could grow into new locations, while maintaining its same cottage comfort food feel Shauna Smith loved so much.
Soon, the Smiths went from overseeing processes and purchasing for two stores to doing the same for 50 Kneaders locations. The systems they put into place made that possible.
The couple began applying their restaurant development talents to other brands as well, and took on R&R BBQ, Mo’ Bettahs Hawaiian Style and Swig. Just recently, Four Foods acquired 71 Little Caesar’s restaurants in the southeastern United States. Four Foods now oversees 154 restaurants across the nation.
Throughout it all, Shauna Smith worked as the chief merchandising officer for Four Foods. She took the reins as president in September because of the company’s growth. She likened her husband’s role as company CEO to the one up in the jungle treetops directing the way for the company. As president, she’s down in the weeds with the troops executing on that vision.
“Over the past few years, Shauna’s influence and responsibilities have continued to increase at FFG. She is a leading force in driving company culture, which has been increasingly important as we’ve acquired a number of new restaurant brands,” Andrew Smith said in a press release about her new role. “Shauna’s tremendous talent will touch every aspect of the business as we grow. I am fortunate to have her as a strong and inspiring partner in both my personal and professional life.”
Shauna Smith said she and her husband work well together — he enjoys networking and securing partnerships and funding for the company, while she enjoys the day-to-day store operations. She likened her husband’s role as company CEO to the one up in the jungle treetops directing the way for the company. As president, she’s down in the weeds with the troops executing on that vision.
“I couldn’t be happier for our company that Shauna is stepping into this expanded role,” said Four Foods Chief Operating Officer Josh Boshard. “She has a sharp business mind and has been brilliant in creating the atmosphere of our restaurants — something we believe has set us apart. As we continue to grow, Shauna’s steady hand will lead FFG into many new, up-and-coming restaurant brands.”
She said she is also very aware of the importance of women in noticeable leadership roles.
“With so many positive experiences in this business with intelligent, dedicated women, I would submit that there aren’t nearly enough women in leadership positions in our industry or business in general. With the conversation surrounding Indra Nooyi’s announcement of her retirement from Pepsi and a recent study that reveals that women in business leadership in our own state is dropping, I am proud that FFG is a company that champions women at all levels. More than 58 percent of our workforce and 47 percent of our company leadership are women,” she said. “By adding my voice and position to this effort, I would hope to see these numbers grow.”
As president, Shauna Smith is leading a team of more than 5,500 Four Foods employees. Four Foods Group was named the third fastest-growing restaurant operator in 2017 by Franchise Times, and was recently listed on the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies list for the seventh consecutive time. The Smiths and their company also have won multiple awards across the state.
