Chef David Adjey’s The Chickery, a popular Toronto-based fast-casual chicken restaurant with five new locations opening in development for Toronto, Washington, D.C., and Dubai, hired Amjad Hantash last year as they launched an aggressive corporate growth and worldwide franchise program. Hantash comes from an impressive restaurant industry background, working with brands such as Freshii, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, and, most recently, Panera Bread.

Hantash swiftly implemented new company standards, guest metrics, staff training systems, and kitchen design and store layout, as well as a refined catering program. The efforts led to a sales increase of 200 percent in 2015 thus far, for the original location at 130 Spadina Avenue in Toronto.

Chef David Adjey, founder of The Chickery, says, “Having someone in place at the corporate level with Mr. Hantash’s track record and experience is an integral part of The Chickery’s international success.”