Chris Cheek, chief development officer of Newk’s Eatery, is helping guide the brand’s next stage of franchise growth as the company sharpens its development strategy around unit-level performance. The fast-casual brand, known for its made-from-scratch menu spanning sandwiches, salads, soups, pizzas and catering, reports average unit volumes of approximately $2,311,855 for all franchised and company-owned restaurants in fiscal year 2025. The franchise operates 29 company-owned restaurants, making it the largest operator within its own system.
“We've been there and done that 29 times and we're still looking for sites to build more company-owned stores,” Cheek said. “We’re hip to hip with our franchisees.”
Newk’s leadership team has played a key role in the brand’s growth in the fast-casual restaurant industry. That story begins with Chris Newcomb, who also co-founded McAlister’s Deli. He launched Newk’s with the goal of serving family-inspired recipes in an open kitchen where guests can watch their food being made fresh every day.
Since its founding in 2004 in Oxford, Mississippi, the brand has expanded with the help of an experienced leadership team. Here’s a closer look.
Behind Newk’s Eatery’s development strategy is a leadership team with decades of experience in restaurant operations and franchise development.
CEO Chris Elliot brings rich industry experience with over four decades spent with major brands like Cinnabon, Church's Chicken and Pizza Hut prior to becoming a part of the Newk's leadership team. Under Elliott's leadership, Newk's continues to evolve, tightening the real estate model and reducing franchisees’ occupancy costs while maintaining the dine-in experience. The brand has continued to post average unit volumes of more than $2 million.
Elliott is also leading Newk’s current, more disciplined growth strategy, which focuses on existing market density instead of rapid expansion.
Chief Operating Officer Matt Wilson also brings that strategy to the table, with nearly 20 years of experience working with Newk’s. He has held roles ranging from general manager to director-level positions since 2007.
Wilson has been directly involved in store openings, training and operations. He’s been part of refining training programs totaling more than 350 hours for franchisees and improving store-opening processes. His operational background helps ensure that changes are practical for franchisees.
Cheek has served as chief development officer since June 2025, and did a prior stint with Newk’s in the role from 2014-2019. Prior to coming on board, he was president and managing partner of Atlantic Franchise Advisors. He has also previously been chief development officer at companies such as Modern Restaurant Concepts, FAT Brands’ QSR division and Global Franchise Group.
Together, Paci, Wilson and Cheek bring a combination of outside perspective and internal experience, with a shared focus on improving unit economics, growth strategy and store-level execution.
As guest habits have changed, Newk’s has put more emphasis on its technology. Adam Karveller moved into the chief technology officer role in 2023 after years of leading IT at Newk’s and has helped update how the system operates.
Online ordering, catering, delivery partnerships and a mobile app with rewards are now part of the daily operations. They’re used across both corporate and franchised locations and give owners more ways to drive sales beyond the dining room.
In addition, data from POS, digital channels and in-store systems help the brand better understand guest behavior and operational performance.
“Data is great to help understand guest behavior across channels, whether that's third-party marketplaces, digital ordering or in the store,” Karveller said. “We can look at our business in two slices and make sure that we're well-staffed to execute catering because it's a big differentiator for us at Newk’s.”
Newk’s operates under FSC Franchise Co., which also owns Beef ‘O’ Brady’s and The Brass Tap, and is led by Elliott, alongside a comprehensive leadership team with a collective 230+ years of industry experience. The board includes CapitalSpring partners Erik Herrmann, Wade Daniel and Jim Balis, adding experience in franchise investment and portfolio management as the brand continues to grow.
Having both restaurant operators and franchise investors on the team helps balance brand values with smart financial management. This mix also strengthens Newk’s as a franchise model, with support in real estate, construction, training and ongoing field support.
Newk’s flexible restaurant designs, including freestanding buildings, inline restaurants, drive-thru options and end-cap spaces, show that leadership is adapting to changing customer habits. Programs like Newk’s Cares — an initiative that raises awareness for ovarian cancer and has generated $2.5 million for the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance — also help keep the brand connected to the community.
The current leadership team combines the founder’s vision, experienced restaurant leaders and a board focused on franchise operations and growth. Each team member plays a role in supporting the brand’s operations and growth. Together, they have helped make Newk’s a brand that balances hospitality with strong operations, keeping it relevant in the fast-casual market.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/newks-eatery.
Newk’s Eatery
SPONSORED
Newk's executives are reshaping the model with smaller footprints, market-focused expansion and operational changes designed to improve unit-level performance.
Chris Cheek, chief development officer of Newk’s Eatery, is helping guide the brand’s next stage of franchise growth as the company sharpens its development strategy around unit-level performance. The fast-casual brand, known for its made-from-scratch menu spanning sandwiches, salads, soups, pizzas and catering, reports average unit volumes of approximately $2,311,855 for all franchised and company-owned restaurants in fiscal year 2025. The franchise operates 29 company-owned restaurants, making it the largest operator within its own system.
“We've been there and done that 29 times and we're still looking for sites to build more company-owned stores,” Cheek said. “We’re hip to hip with our franchisees.”
Newk’s leadership team has played a key role in the brand’s growth in the fast-casual restaurant industry. That story begins with Chris Newcomb, who also co-founded McAlister’s Deli. He launched Newk’s with the goal of serving family-inspired recipes in an open kitchen where guests can watch their food being made fresh every day.
Since its founding in 2004 in Oxford, Mississippi, the brand has expanded with the help of an experienced leadership team. Here’s a closer look.
Behind Newk’s Eatery’s development strategy is a leadership team with decades of experience in restaurant operations and franchise development.
CEO Chris Elliot brings rich industry experience with over four decades spent with major brands like Cinnabon, Church's Chicken and Pizza Hut prior to becoming a part of the Newk's leadership team. Under Elliott's leadership, Newk's continues to evolve, tightening the real estate model and reducing franchisees’ occupancy costs while maintaining the dine-in experience. The brand has continued to post average unit volumes of more than $2 million.
Elliott is also leading Newk’s current, more disciplined growth strategy, which focuses on existing market density instead of rapid expansion.
Chief Operating Officer Matt Wilson also brings that strategy to the table, with nearly 20 years of experience working with Newk’s. He has held roles ranging from general manager to director-level positions since 2007.
Wilson has been directly involved in store openings, training and operations. He’s been part of refining training programs totaling more than 350 hours for franchisees and improving store-opening processes. His operational background helps ensure that changes are practical for franchisees.
Cheek has served as chief development officer since June 2025, and did a prior stint with Newk’s in the role from 2014-2019. Prior to coming on board, he was president and managing partner of Atlantic Franchise Advisors. He has also previously been chief development officer at companies such as Modern Restaurant Concepts, FAT Brands’ QSR division and Global Franchise Group.
Together, Paci, Wilson and Cheek bring a combination of outside perspective and internal experience, with a shared focus on improving unit economics, growth strategy and store-level execution.
As guest habits have changed, Newk’s has put more emphasis on its technology. Adam Karveller moved into the chief technology officer role in 2023 after years of leading IT at Newk’s and has helped update how the system operates.
Online ordering, catering, delivery partnerships and a mobile app with rewards are now part of the daily operations. They’re used across both corporate and franchised locations and give owners more ways to drive sales beyond the dining room.
In addition, data from POS, digital channels and in-store systems help the brand better understand guest behavior and operational performance.
“Data is great to help understand guest behavior across channels, whether that's third-party marketplaces, digital ordering or in the store,” Karveller said. “We can look at our business in two slices and make sure that we're well-staffed to execute catering because it's a big differentiator for us at Newk’s.”
Newk’s operates under FSC Franchise Co., which also owns Beef ‘O’ Brady’s and The Brass Tap, and is led by Elliott, alongside a comprehensive leadership team with a collective 230+ years of industry experience. The board includes CapitalSpring partners Erik Herrmann, Wade Daniel and Jim Balis, adding experience in franchise investment and portfolio management as the brand continues to grow.
Having both restaurant operators and franchise investors on the team helps balance brand values with smart financial management. This mix also strengthens Newk’s as a franchise model, with support in real estate, construction, training and ongoing field support.
Newk’s flexible restaurant designs, including freestanding buildings, inline restaurants, drive-thru options and end-cap spaces, show that leadership is adapting to changing customer habits. Programs like Newk’s Cares — an initiative that raises awareness for ovarian cancer and has generated $2.5 million for the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance — also help keep the brand connected to the community.
The current leadership team combines the founder’s vision, experienced restaurant leaders and a board focused on franchise operations and growth. Each team member plays a role in supporting the brand’s operations and growth. Together, they have helped make Newk’s a brand that balances hospitality with strong operations, keeping it relevant in the fast-casual market.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/newks-eatery.
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