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Gordon Ramsay North America names Norman Abdallah CEO

Former Del Frisco’s executive will lead celebrity chef’s U.S. restaurants

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

January 8, 2021

2 Min Read
Gordon-Ramsay-North-America-Hells-Kitchen-Norman-Abdallah-CEO.jpg
Gordon Ramsay at the Hell’s Kitchen at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nev.Gordon Ramsay North America

Gordon Ramsay North America, the Dallas-based company behind the celebrity chef’s U.S. operations, has named Norman Abdallah as CEO, the company announced Friday.

Abdallah most recently served as CEO of Southlake, Texas-based Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group Inc., which was taken private in an acquisition by private-equity firm L Catterton in 2019.

Prior to joining Del Frisco’s, Abdallah was the operating partner for private-equity firm CIC Partners, focusing on restaurant portfolio companies.

In 2019, Gordon Ramsay signed a deal with private-equity firm Lion Capital to expand Gordon Ramsay restaurant concepts across the U.S.

In addition to the 24 international restaurants in the Gordon Ramsay Restaurants portfolio, Gordon Ramsay North America has 10 restaurants in the U.S., including Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Baltimore, Lake Tahoe and Kansas City, in partnership with Caesars Entertainment.

Gordon Ramsay North America said it will focus on scaling dining concepts including outdoor and take-out, as the company taps into several of Gordon Ramsay’s U.S. and international key brands, including Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza, Gordon Ramsay Bread Street Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill and Gordon Ramsay Steak.

"With Gordon Ramsay and Lion Capital fueling growth, we’re positioned to open top-tier experiential and chef-driven concepts throughout the United States… ,” Abdallah said in a statement Friday.

Related:Gordon Ramsay plans 100 new restaurants under new private-equity deal

Gordon Ramsay North America CEO Norm Abdallah.jpgAbdallah, left, has served as interim CEO of Dinosaur BBQ, president and CEO of Romano’s Macaroni Grill, and president and CEO of Restaurants Unlimited. He is also the co-founder and former CEO of Fired Up Inc., the parent company of Carino’s Italian.

Ramsay, in a statement, added: “We have an amazing, supportive partner in Lion Capital, and took our time to find the absolute right person to pilot our multi-layered concept in America.”

Privately owned Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, founded in 1997, has 17 restaurants in London and 17 in other countries, including the United States, France, Dubai and Singapore. Brands also include Bread Street Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, Gordon Ramsay Steak and Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

 

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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