News

Pei Wei puts former NPC COO in corner office

February 21, 2017

Former NPC International chief operating officer John J. Hedrick has taken the reins of pan-Asian fast casual brand Pei Wei  as of Jan. 30.

As COO at NPC, the nation's seventh largest restaurant operator, Hedrick increased performance at the company's 1,300 Pizza Hut and Wendy's restaurants through an employee-first mentality, according to a press release.

"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to join Pei Wei — a great brand with a terrific future," Hedrick said in the release. "As a longtime customer, I jumped at the chance to be part of the team. I believe that with a renewed focus on our team members and the needs of our customers, we will continue to position ourselves as a leader in the fast casual restaurant industry."
 
Last year, Pei Wei began rebranding in order to connect better with customers through a "flavor with purpose" mission focused on "mindfully sourced" ingredients. The Pei Wei chain currently has more than 200 locations in 21 states.
 
Hedrick also previously served in leadership and support staff roles at Pilot Flying J, 7-Eleven Inc. and RaceTrac Petroleum.