Eataly said on Monday it has named Tommaso Brusò the first CEO of its North American division as the Italy-themed specialty retailer and restaurant chain ramps up its expansion plans in the U.S.
Brusò, who is scheduled to join New York-based Eataly North America on Oct. 2, is currently group CEO at sustainable clothing brand Colourful Standard, and was previously global chief operating officer for Benetton Group. He also had been CEO of Diesel North America from 2013-2017 and before that had been with other multinational fashion and accessories brands.
Eataly currently has nine locations in the U.S. and Canada, and said it plans to open five more in the next two years, as part of its goal to have 20 stores in the region in the next five years. The company operates 47 locations in 16 countries, with annual revenues of about 700 million euros (about $742 million U.S.).
“Tommaso arrives at an important time for the group and will be instrumental to the development and growth of a market of primary importance for Eataly,” said Andrea Cipolloni, group CEO of Eataly, in a statement.
Eataly has also added several other top executives during the past year, including Cipolloni, who joined the company last November from catering giant Autogrill, where he had been CEO for Italy and Europe. His appointment followed a 200 million euro investment (about $212 million U.S.) in September of last year by European firm Investindustrial, which acquired a 52 percent stake in the company. Earlier this year the company also announced the appointments of a new chief financial officer, chief operating officer, and head of human resources.
Eataly said Brusò spent significant time in the U.S. as the COO at Benetton, an Italian clothing company known for its colorful marketing and casual fashion style.
“Living in New York City for many years, I have always been a big fan of [Eataly], which represents the extraordinary Italian food experience.” said Brusò. “Food, together with fashion, are globally recognized as Italian excellences, and I believe that my significant experience in the fashion industry will make a strong contribution to taking the Eataly brand to the next level.”
Eataly, which was founded in 2003 by Oscar Farinetti, opened its first retail location in 2007 in Monticello D'Alban in the province of Cuneo, Italy. It was designed to offer high-quality Italian food at sustainable and reasonable prices, to celebrate Italian biodiversity, and to create an informal place to eat, shop and learn, all under one roof.
The company sources its 25,000 Italian products from a select group of 2,300 producers. It has a strong focus on sustainability, and seeks to work with small-scale producers who share its values for sustainable and environmentally-friend practices, and provide fair treatment for workers.
Eataly locations, which typically feature multiple Italian restaurants in addition to retail space, also offer cooking classes, tastings, and events.
The company currently has U.S. locations in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York City (two locations), and San Jose, California, and one location in Toronto. Additional locations are planned for New York City (in SoHo, about midway between Eataly’s first two New York stores in Chelsea and Tribeca), and in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania (slated to open in the King of Prussia Mall, near Philadelphia, in 2025).
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