George Naddaff, who helped develop the Boston Chicken chain, has resigned as chairman and chief executive of UFood Restaurant Group Inc., a Boston-based franchise company that operates casual restaurants under the UFood Grill name, according to Boston.com.
Richard Golden is the company’s new chairman and chief executive. He has served on UFood’s board of directors for the past three years. Charlie Cocotas, UFood chief operating officer, has also decided to retire.
UFood worked under Naddaff to combine the quickness of fast-food restaurants with a menu that offers “healthy comfort food.”
The UFood concept seems well suited to airports, and there are two UFood restaurants at Logan International Airport.
“George has been an outstanding visionary and dedicated chief executive officer over the past eight years, and I congratulate him for founding such an innovative fast-casual restaurant concept as UFood Grill. America needs more ‘healthy’ food choices, and George delivered it,” Golden said.
“Now, however, the board respects that as a world-class entrepreneur and franchise veteran, George is ready to pursue other ventures at this stage.”
Naddaff and Cocotas will still provide consultation expertise to UFood, the company said.
