Richard Peabody came into the restaurant business by accident – sort of. After spending a few years in the public accounting world he saw an opportunity to be a part of an industry that was growing, had a strong focus on franchising, and satisfied his sense of service. He joined Unigate Restaurants, parent to the Black-eyed Pea and Taco Bueno concepts, gaining a strong foundation in both the casual dining and the quick service restaurant segments. Through everything he learned that, while guests have different expectations from casual dining and quick service restaurants, they always have high expectations. Over the years he built a solid foundation of experience in the restaurant industry and franchising, skills that attracted Corner Bakery Cafe to hire him in July 2008 as it builds its franchise network. Richard understands that as a young franchisor, Corner Bakery faces higher expectations when it comes to technology, operations and other resources than it did before franchising. That’s where his experience comes into play – he understands his role as CFO is really to serve and support the entire Corner Bakery Cafe organization and to consistently deliver on the high expectations. His goal is to implement systems that are designed to make the brand more visible to guests and partners everywhere, while maintaining a seamless and invisible presence. To accomplish this goal, he will work closely with the operations, marketing, and food and beverage teams to ensure that the brand is moving forward in the most efficient and profitable manner possible. Richard has been married for almost 25 years, and has one son in college and another in high school. In his spare time, he’s watching high school football or marveling in surprise at his oldest son’s activities on his college rowing crew. FAVORITE CORNER BAKERY MENU ITEM: Still deciding – there are too many great options to pick a favorite!
