Craveable Brands has appointed Ben Simmons as the new head of marketing for Oporto Australia. Simmons was most recently general manager marketing & operations for Taco Bell at Restaurant Brands Australia and senior marketing manager at KFC.
Speaking of the appointment, Chief Executive Officer Samantha Bragg states the appointment comes at an exciting time of growth and opportunity for Oporto and Craveable Brands.
“I am thrilled to welcome Ben to the Oporto familia. Ben brings a strong strategic capability and an unwavering customer and growth mindset to the team. Oporto is in a period of rapid growth as we expand our market presence through an accelerated new store opening strategy while continuing to transform our CX and broaden our market appeal to deliver continued same store growth.”
“It is an exciting time for Oporto and I look forward to working alongside Ben as we continue to make this iconic brand that started in Bondi accessible and loved by more Australians,” states Samantha Bragg, CEO at Oporto Franchising Pty Ltd.
Simmons brings 20 years of experience in the marketing and fast food industry, and previously worked at some of the world’s most iconic brands in Australia and the UK including Kit Kat, Uncle Toby’s, and Diet Coke.
Simmons, who officially started in the role at the beginning of October, said, “as one of Australia’s most iconic home-grown restaurant brands with a devoted Australian fan base, I’m excited to join Oporto and really looking forward to leading its next wave of growth with the team.”
Having opened 11 new stores since July, including a considerable expansion into regional Queensland towns of Bundaberg, Rockhampton, and Townsville, Oporto has plans to round out the financial year with over 25 new store openings.
Oporto was founded back in 1986 in a shop in North Bondi by Antonio Cerqueira and continues to serve their delicious flame grilled chicken and Portuguese-inspired flavours across the country, providing a more flavoursome and feel-good option to the usual FMCG outlets.