Trailblazers from First Watch, Fogo de Chão, and Savory Fund join forces with co-founder Kaleb Harrell to guide Hawkers’ bold future
Orlando, FL (RestaurantNews.com) Building on a foundation of bold flavors, loyal fans, and remarkable metrics, Hawkers Asian Street Food today announced a new board of directors – an all-star lineup of restaurant veterans set to steer the brand’s next phase of expansion and innovation. This powerful group, featuring executives from First Watch, Fogo de Chão, Savory Fund, and the brand’s co-founder Kaleb Harrell, signals a powerful commitment to Hawkers’ dynamic future.
The newly appointed board includes:
- Chris Tomasso, President & CEO of First Watch Restaurants
- Barry McGowan, CEO of Fogo de Chão
- Andrew K. Smith, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Savory Fund
- Kaleb Harrell, Co-Founder and CEO of Hawkers Asian Street Food
- Taylor DeHart, Principal at Savory Fund
This elite, strategy-driven board marks a major milestone for Hawkers, coming just weeks after the announcement of its powerhouse partnership with Savory Fund. The assembled group brings an unmatched depth of operational experience, executive vision, and growth-stage expertise – with each member selected not just for their pedigree, but for their alignment with the brand’s mission, culture, and trajectory.
“The board we’ve built at Hawkers isn’t just high-caliber – it’s high conviction,” said Andrew K. Smith, co-founder and managing director of Savory Fund. “It’s an honor to collaborate with these leaders I’ve long admired – as well as to work alongside my Savory colleague Taylor DeHart, whose strategic instincts and dedication have been instrumental to this partnership. Each member brings unique strengths, but what unites us is a belief in the power of this one-of-a-kind brand.”
Chris Tomasso brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across iconic restaurant and hospitality brands. As CEO of First Watch, he has guided the company’s strategic expansion in his nearly two decades with the daytime dining leader, while earning coveted industry accolades such as the IFMA’s 2024 Gold Plate Award. He previously held executive roles at Cracker Barrel and Hard Rock Café International.
“Hawkers is a fearless, category-defining brand with a cult following that many restaurant concepts spend decades chasing,” said Tomasso, president and CEO of First Watch. “We share roots in Orlando, and I’m proud to be an early adopter, having followed Kaleb and the Hawkers team since the first location opened in 2011. With its electric dining experience and bold vision for growth, Hawkers is poised to explode. This partnership with Savory Fund is just the thing to propel it into this next, game-changing chapter.”
Barry McGowan is a 40-year restaurant industry veteran and currently serves as CEO of Fogo de Chão. Known for his strategic focus and operational excellence, he brings decades of board-level experience and a track record of scaling complex, high-growth restaurant businesses globally.
“Hawkers is the kind of brand that gets your attention – not just because of its food, but because of its discipline, its culture, and its potential,” said McGowan, CEO of Fogo de Chão. “What the team has built is rare: a concept that’s both operationally sound and emotionally resonant. As someone who’s spent decades scaling global brands, I recognize the kind of foundation that can support serious growth – and Hawkers has it. I’m excited to help guide this next phase alongside such a sharp, aligned group of leaders.”
Founded in 2011 by four friends with a shared love for the bold, vibrant flavors of Asian street food, Hawkers has grown into one of the Southeast’s most beloved fast-casual brands, with 15 high-performing locations and a guest base that borders on fanatical. The brand is now accelerating into new markets, deepening loyalty in existing ones, and doubling down on the things that made it magnetic in the first place: flavor, energy, and authenticity.
“We’ve always believed Hawkers had the potential to become a category-defining brand. Now, we have a board that matches that ambition,” said Kaleb Harrell, co-founder and CEO of Hawkers. “These are leaders I’ve admired for years – visionaries who’ve built, scaled, and led some of the most iconic concepts in the industry. Their belief in our brand means everything, and their insights will be invaluable as we shape what’s to come.”
The board announcement comes at a pivotal moment for Hawkers, as the brand continues to outperform the category in both AUVs and guest frequency. With a distinctive format, a Michelin Guide nod, and Savory Fund’s operational expertise now in play, Hawkers is primed for breakout growth and national scale.
About Savory Fund
Savory is an innovative private equity firm that combines over $750 million in assets under management with a growth playbook and expertise that has been developed over 16 years of operating in the restaurant industry. Savory partners with high-potential, profitable, emerging restaurant brands, to deliver financial capital, industry expertise, growth and revenue opportunities, profitability enhancements and new location development. The Savory team contributes directly to all aspects of growth and replication by using a proven playbook and methodology. Founder involvement in the expansion of a brand is a central theme of the Savory approach as founders carry the tribal knowledge around the uniqueness that has energized early success and is essential to future growth. Savory is currently invested in the following brands: Swig, R&R BBQ, PINCHO, Via 313 Pizzeria, Mo’ Bettahs Hawaiian Style Food, 86 Repairs, Saigon Hustle, Hash Kitchen, The Sicilian Butcher, Houston TX Hot Chicken, South Block, Bonrue Bakery, and Hawkers Asian Street Food. For more information, visit SavoryFund.com.
About Hawkers
Hawkers Asian Street Food, headquartered in Central Florida, was founded by four friends who traveled the world on a mission to curate a memorable dining experience built on generations-old recipes and hand-picked street foods from across Asia. Kaleb Harrell, Allen Lo, Wayne Yung, and Kin Ho opened the first Hawkers location (Orlando, Fla.) in 2011, and the concept has since grown to include 15 locations spanning the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, Virginia, and Texas. Having earned a 2022 Michelin Guide Recommendation, the restaurant serves bold and authentic Asian street food in an experience-driven environment that uses shared plates to encourage the exploration of new flavors through a guest’s personal culinary adventure. To learn more or find a location near you, visit EatHawkers.com.
Contact:
Josiah Kinman
Champion
936-615-8979
jkinman@championmgt.com