ABOUT LARRY

Larry Lavine is a seasoned food service executive and business entrepreneur with a history of creating and managing casual dining chain restaurant concepts. He specializes in strategic planning, assembling the right team, customer-driven menu and food development, pricing strategy, and marketing development.

Larry is a strong believer in the power of great company culture. He has been creating and growing new concepts, selecting and leading start-up management teams and developing operating systems to ensure rapid and effective restaurant growth for decades. With extensive experience in market planning, entry strategy and site selection, he has the ability to successfully identify consumer trends for developing restaurant concepts that capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Larry clearly understand how to create and manage a brand in the casual segment, and over the years has founded, built and managed many of today’s leading restaurant brands. From creating Chili’s in 1975 and scaling it to a nationally recognized chain, to building the Tia’s restaurants concept from three units to a national chain, Larry is clear sighted on what equates to successful growth. He has led and consulted for many other restaurant brands toward further expansion and recognition.

Larry was chairman of the NTFB board and helped lead the purchase of its former headquarters in Southern Dallas. He recognized the food insecurity that existed in Dallas and the need to serve the working poor. His film company designed and contributed a TV commercial to show the face of hunger and is the basis for the current Face of Hunger campaign used today. Larry is a continuing member of the Life Council.

Larry continues to be deeply ingrained in the restaurant entrepreneurship community through ongoing work as a new concept consultant, public speaker, and a mentor in the Gleam Network - Mentorship & Leadership Development Program and past Board Chairman of both the North Texas Food Bank and FBI Citizens Academy Board.