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Executives from Froots, Gyroville partner to grow brands

Executives from Florida-based, healthful food restaurants Froots and Gyroville announced that they are teaming up an effort to drive growth of both brands.

January 11, 2016

Executives from Florida-based, healthful food restaurants Froots and Gyroville announced that they are teaming up an effort to drive growth of both brands. The agreement allows each company's area of expertise to benefit the other's franchise system, according to a press release from Froots.

Froots Founder and President David Lopez and EVP of Business Development Scott Mortier are forming F & G Development Group with Gyroville Founder and CEO Lambros Kokkinelis and COO David Kurlander to focus on operational and development strategies that will heighten both brands. As part of the new partnership, Kokkinelis and Kurlander will collaborate to enhance store operations of Froots, while Lopez and Mortier will spearhead Gyroville franchise development efforts.

"This partnership allows us to focus on what we do best — grow franchise brands," Mortier said. "As Froots enters its next stage of growth, David and I are taking a more active role in expanding the brand. As part of our strategy, we're bringing in highly-experienced operators that can further develop the menu and operational systems that benefit our franchise community. Lambros and David have incredible backgrounds in restaurant operations. I'm confident that bringing in their expertise will drive efficiencies and establish the systems we need to continue expansion."

Both graduates of the Culinary Institute of America in New York, Kokkinelis and Kurlander bring a combined 40 years of culinary experience working in a variety of restaurant concepts, including fast-casual and casual dining, the release stated. Kokkinelis has been the owner and operator of three Moonlite Diner locations in South Florida since 2004. In 2010, he recognized that consumers were increasingly seeking more healthful options in a fast-casual setting and responded to this trend by creating Gyroville, which has since grown to nine locations. Kurlander was part of Gyroville's development from the beginning. He created and implemented the restaurant's systems that helped structure food costs, purchasing and day-to-day operations. Prior to joining Gyroville, Kurlander was the director of operations for Urban Life Restaurant Group from 2005 until 2010, where he oversaw day-to-day operations for Moonlite Diner locations in South Florida.

"We've spent the past year developing our branding and systems for franchising — we just needed someone to drive it," Kokkinelis said. "David and Scott have already established successful franchise systems, and have the infrastructure in place that will help us grow at the right pace. Both of our concepts offer fresh, healthy food options so this was an excellent synergy of everyone's expertise."

Lopez and Mortier have a combined 35-plus years in franchise sales. Lopez founded Froots in 2001 and began franchising the concept in 2004. In 2009, he created Dental Fix Rx, a mobile dental equipment repair service franchise, which has grown to more than 200 franchises. In the same year, Mortier joined Lopez's team. Along with other investors, Lopez and Mortier recently acquired a stake in Tikiz Shaved Ice & Ice Cream — a mobile franchise — and have signed six new franchises within the past three months.