News

Aloha Poke taps former Potbelly exec as CEO

May 1, 2018

Aloha Poke Co., a Chicago-based Hawaiian-style fast casual poke restaurant chain, has hired Chris Birkinshaw as CEO. He joins Aloha Poke following six years in successive senior management positions at Potbelly Sandwich Works, according to a company press release.

"I am thrilled to step in as CEO. My passion for Aloha Poke comes not only from my love for Poke Bowls, but also for the opportunity to seize the growing movement toward 'clean food' in the fast casual market," Birkinshaw said in the release.  "I look forward to building and streamlining company operations and working with our passionate team to drive the business forward." 

Birkinshaw started his career at Starbucks in store-level operations, eventually moving to Potbelly Sandwich Works, where he held senior management positions across departments including operations services, district and regional operations and franchising. 

As CEO, Birkinshaw will lead Aloha Poke's growth trajectory, focusing on driving operational excellence through multi-unit store operations, new market development, franchise growth and joint venture partnerships. Birkinshaw will leverage his hands-on management style to foster high levels of engagement with corporate and store teams while creating a superior in-store environment for customers, according to the release.

In addition to its nine Chicago-area locations, Aloha Poke, backed by investor partners including Levy Family Partners and Lakeview Investment Group, also has locations in Minneapolis, Denver, Los Angeles, Orange County and Washington D.C. It will add eight locations this year.