Staffing

Fast casual coffee chain leader named president of Mo’Bettahs

Rob Ertmann, who has held leadership roles at Philz Coffee, Einstein Noah Restaurant Group and Peet's Coffee, will serve as president of Mo'Bettahs. Provided

August 19, 2021

Mo'Bettahs a Hawaiian fast casual concept, is accelerating expansion efforts with a new president and locations in three new markets.

Rob Ertmann, who has held leadership roles at Philz Coffee, Einstein Noah Restaurant Group and Peet's Coffee, will serve as president, rounding out a leadership team guided by co-founders and brothers Kalani and Kimo Mack, who built the brand around their experience growing up in Hawaii.

"Rob Ertmann joins us at such a crucial time in our business as we continue to grow into new markets," Kalani Mack said in a company press release. "His experience and multi-unit growth pedigree are the perfect fit to help Mo'Bettahs spread our authentic brand of Aloha to those customers looking for that true island taste."

Mo'Bettahs will open 26 locations by the end of 2022, doubling in size and entering markets in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas City this year. The chain now has 22 locations in Utah and Idaho.

Savory Fund in 2017, a management group that infuses exciting startup brands with capital and pairs them with its team of 65 industry veterans, who have experience in everything from real estate, development and construction, store operations, technology, recruiting, training and finance, is helping the brand expand.

"After reviewing and meeting with several dozen impressive leaders within the food and beverage industry, Rob Ertmann really stood out because of his genuine personality, his humility, and his willingness to be a servant leader," Andrew K. Smith, managing partner of Savory Fund, said in the release. "To talk about how, in his first 100 days in a position, he would be in the trenches with the team learning the business, and that nothing was beneath him, was a match for each of us when picking the right person to lead this incredible brand. It is how everyone at Savory operates as well; in the trenches with each brand, every day."

Ertmann has more than 25 years of experience in the restaurant and retail industries. He most recently served as chief operating officer at Philz Coffee, a specialty coffee company based in San Francisco, where he and his team improved store-level EBITDA by 10% and grew average unit volumes by $200,000, according to the release. He also held leadership roles at Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, where he was responsible for more than 200 company-owned locations and revenue in excess of $170 million, and Peet's Coffee, where he oversaw 250 company-owned locations and revenue in excess of $269 million.

"It is an exciting time to be a part of this journey as we grow the number of communities that get to share this delicious island food, both in Utah and into new markets that have yet to experience Mo'Bettahs," Ertmann said in the release. "I have no doubt that customers in these new communities will love and appreciate the opportunity to enjoy our Aloha spirit as we provide them with an authentic Hawaiian experience and delicious food without having to step on a boat or an airplane to get it."

Mo'Bettah's first opened in Bountiful, Utah, in 2008. The menu offers Teriyaki Chicken or Steak, Kalua Pig, Pulehu Chicken, Katsu Chicken, and Shrimp Tempura served with white rice and macaroni salad, along with a range of delicious sauces.

"Opening in new markets is really exciting for us. For two inexperienced island boys to come as far as we have has been a dream come true," Kimo Mack said. "To think we will make it all the way to the Midwest and have a partner like Savory Fund help us get to over 50 units and beyond is crazy. That's a long way from Oahu."