News

Lemonade Restaurant Group taps Mediterranean Cuisine Operating Co.’s Kelly Hansen

April 10, 2017

Lemonade Restaurant Group, a Los Angeles-based fast casual restaurant company that serves seasonal California cuisine, has named Kelly Hansen as senior director of marketing and sales.

Previously, Hansen served as vice president of marketing at Mediterranean Cuisine Operating Co., according to a prepared Lemonade announcement. As one of the original members of the MCOC leadership team, she played a key role in the entire concept development, including leading the branding development for the Yalla Mediterranean brand, a fast casual concept. This included developing the brand plan and leading the creative direction for all brand assets, including website, collateral and brand personality.

In addition, Hansen developed a new store opening brand strategy and oversaw marketing and public relations efforts for seven openings within a 13-month period. Prior to MCOC, she held executive marketing positions at Tavistock Restaurant Collection, Hilton Worldwide and Wente Family Estates.

With more than 13 years of hospitality marketing experience, Hansen will lead Lemonade's development and activation of marketing, catering sales, branding and public relations strategies.

"We are thrilled to have Kelly join the Lemonade team and believe she will be instrumental in Lemonade's continued success. Her diverse skill set and brand building ability enables her to bring a strategic vision and focus to Lemonade," Lemonade President and CEO Larry Kurzweil said in the press release. "She is results-oriented and highly collaborative, which makes her a strong cultural fit."

"It is an exciting time for Lemonade, as the brand continues to drive forward with ambitious growth plans," said Hansen. "I admire Lemonade's vision for the future and am excited to be a part of its growth as it continues to evolve. I am thrilled to be working with the team to develop innovative marketing programming which will further drive sales and take customer engagement with the loyal Lemonade fan base to the next level."

In 2014, Hansen was named in the "Top 40 Under 40" East Bay Business Professional by Diablo Magazine.