SAN RAFAEL, CA – After 25 years of leadership, Elevate Gourmet Brands’ founders Jason and Jon Araghi have named Brian Laliberte as new CEO. Laliberte, EGB’s Chief Operating Officer since 2008, will assume his new role May 1st as US air travel ramps up for summer 2022. The Araghis will continue to serve on EGB’s Board of Directors.
For more than a decade Brian has directed Elevate Gourmet Brands’ growth and diversification within the airport industry, and was instrumental in navigating EGB through the unprecedented challenges brought on by the Pandemic of 2020. Now as US air travel climbs, Laliberte is ready to lead EGB upward as well.
“We’ve developed an aggressive roadmap for growth that we’re very excited to begin implementing. We have two new brands launching in the next 12 months, as well as four build-outs in two airports to complete by the end of the year. Our entire US team is ready to serve airport employees, flight crews and travelers at pre-pandemic volume,” said Brian Laliberte. “We’re committed to continue elevating our customers’ airport dining experience at all our established and emerging brands!”
Elevate Gourmet Brands include Green Beans Coffee, Pronto! and Whisk & Bowl locations in six US airports, with four awarded leases moving to build-out phase in Q2 and Q3 of 2022. Most recently, EGB opened a new 3,000 square foot Green Beans Coffee serving Nashville International Airport. A Pronto! marketplace opened in BNA’s B Concourse in August of 2020.
“Jon, Negissa and I started Elevate Gourmet Brands as a family business, and over the last 14 years, Brian has become part of our family,” said Co-Founder Jason Araghi. “I know that I speak for all of us in thanking Brian for his tireless dedication to the company, our mission and our customers.”