Staffing

Salata taps former NCR exec to lead tech team

December 27, 2022

Salata, a built-to-order salad kitchen with 90 locations, has hired Briton Smetzer as VP of IT. With a background in a variety of industries, including fast casual restaurants, construction, ATM and technology services, Smetzer will lead the modernization of Salata's IT infrastructure, according to Salata President Michelle Bythewood.

"Since I became president of Salata in 2019, building out and enhancing our technology suite has been one of my primary focuses for the company," she said in a company press release. "As we continue to scale the brand for exponential growth, it is imperative to build an executive leadership team with a development and innovation-focused mindset. Briton checked every box we were looking for to fill the VP of information technology role."

Smetzer, who most recently served as director of ATM management and software deployment at NCR, an information technology company that manufactures self-service kiosks, point-of-sale terminals and automated teller machines, will be the first to hold the VP of information technology role at Salata. He's the third executive-level hire for the brand in the last year, including the VP of development and VP of operations roles. His initial focus at the customizable salad kitchen brand will be on rationalization, simplification, and consolidation of the current IT landscape.

"I'm thrilled to be joining Salata at a time when their key priority is growth and putting the right building blocks in place, from operations and development to technology, for a successful expansion," Smetzer said in the release. "We offer a variety of solutions and services across multiple channels that our guests engage with, but we lack the necessary centralization needed to offer a truly seamless omnichannel experience that guests have come to expect. Implementing a winning centralization strategy begins with IT consolidation and rationalization."

As part of its growth strategy, Salata is seeking experienced business operators to open locations along the U.S. sunbelt and beyond. The ideal Salata partner has a local-first mindset with their finger on the pulse of their community and is eager to participate in the development and operations of their restaurant. Candidates must also meet financial and experience requirements, have a thorough market understanding and align with the brand's aggressive development schedule.