TL;DR
Matt Wilson has been promoted to chief operating officer at Newk's Eatery, a fast-casual chain with 97 units across 13 states. Wilson, a 20-year company veteran, previously served as senior vice president of operations.
Matt Wilson has been promoted to chief operating officer at Newk’s Eatery.
The company said Monday that Wilson, who was previously senior vice president of operations, joined the Jackson, Mississippi-based chain out of college as an assistant manager at the original restaurant in Oxford, Mississippi. Over two decades, he climbed the ladder, moving into leadership roles across operations, training, restaurant development and franchise support.
“Matt’s story is the Newk’s story,” said Chris Elliott, CEO of Newk’s Eatery and FSC Franchise Co., in a statement. “His career demonstrates what’s possible when talented people are given opportunities to grow, lead and make an impact. He understands every aspect of our business because he’s lived it. His experience, leadership and passion for our brand make him the ideal person to help guide Newk’s into its next chapter.”
Founded in 2004, the fast-casual Newk’s has 97 units across 13 states, with an average unit volume of about $2.2 million. The chain is operated under FSC Franchise Co., which also owns Beef O’ Brady’s and The Brass Tap.
In this story
This story was originally published by Lisa Jennings in Nation's Restaurant News on July 27, 2026. Burnaze summarizes and links to the original reporting.
Read the full story at Nation's Restaurant NewsLiked this? Get the week's franchise news, explained
- Sunday 8 AM ET weekly + a monthly deep dive
- Sections picked for the industries you follow
- Every claim linked to its source. Free.