RAVE Restaurant Group Names Brandon Solano CEO

RAVE Restaurant Group Inc. named Brandon L. Solano as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.  Solano succeeds Scott Crane, whose tenure with the company ended in July 2019.

Solano most recently served as Chief Marketing & Digital Officer of fast-casual concept Pei Wei Asian Kitchen, where he recorded the best positive traffic the brand had seen in seven years behind the launch of “Wei Better Orange Chicken,” cauliflower rice and a clean-label initiative dubbed “The Wei Forward.”

Solano began his restaurant career with Domino’s Pizza in 2008, where he led the 2010 “New & Inspired” pizza launch as Vice President of Innovation. Solano later served as Vice President of Development for Domino’s, where he designed the “Pizza Theatre” concept and created the “Fortress Seattle” model market strategy, where he led operations. Prior to his Pei Wei tenure, Solano drove positive traffic for the first time in 10 years as Chief Marketing Officer of Wendy’s.

“Brandon has been a difference maker for multiple brands in the restaurant space,” said Mark Schwarz, Chairman of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. “He has a history of driving profitable traffic and leading brands to cultural relevance. He has communicated provocatively, even telling consumers Domino’s pizza wasn’t great and could be better. ... Importantly, he has brought his franchisees along with him to shared success.”

Founded in 1958, Dallas-based RAVE Restaurant Group owns, operates, franchises and/or licenses 261 Pie Five Pizza Co. and Pizza Inn restaurants and Pizza Inn Express kiosks domestically and internationally.