James J. Greco
Encyclopedia
James Joseph Greco is an American businessman and entrepreneur. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer
of the restaurant group Le Duff America, a bakery café chain headquartered in Burlington
, Vermont
; Dallas
, Texas
; and Toronto, Canada
.
, Connecticut
and grew up in nearby Hamden, Connecticut
. He graduated from Hamden High School
in 1976, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Georgetown University
in 1980, and a J.D.
from the University of Miami
School of Law, in 1983. Additionally, Greco has completed International Studies at the Cass Business School of City University, London
, England
.
Greco is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association
and the Florida Bar Association. As well as being active on the board of advisors for the Lender School of Business at Quinnipiac University
, Greco also serves on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Food Bank
and the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce. Greco resides in Cheshire, Connecticut
with his wife, Valerie, and their two sons.
Greco executed one of his first turnarounds as chief operating officer
of Ellington
, Connecticut
-based Natural Country Farms
, a manufacturer of private label and food service fruit juices.
Following Natural Country Farms, Greco served as chief executive officer of Fieldbrook Farms
, a $100 million manufacturer of private label ice cream in Dunkirk, New York
. A team of investors, led by Greco, took over a failing Fieldbrook Farms and named Greco Chief Executive Officer. As CEO, he successfully designed and executed a strategic plan to turn the company around. Greco's efforts resulted in a doubling of profits and a large increase in productivity.
. On November 13, 2009, Greco oversaw Bruegger's eleventh and largest acquisition to occur during his tenure at the company when Bruegger's purchased the restaurant holdings of Timothy's World Coffee
. Through a wholly owned subsidiary called Threecaf Brands Canada Inc., Bruegger's assumed control of Timothy's three restaurant brands: Timothy's World Coffee
, Michel's Bakery Café, and mmmuffins
.
On October 5, 2009, Greco was named Restaurant Operator of the Year by the Nation's Restaurant News
during the publication's Golden Anniversary Celebration. He was awarded the honor in Dallas
, Texas
at the 50th anniversary Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference. He was selected by readers of the publication from among six nominees, the others being: Chuck Fallon, president
of Burger King
North America
; Phil Friedman, chairman and chief executive of McAlister's Deli
; Jeffrey Harvey, president
and chief executive of Burgerville; Randy Kibler, president
and chief executive of Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits; and Cameron Mitchell, president
and chief executive of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants.
, La Madeleine
, Brioche Dorée
, Timothy's World Coffee
, Michel's Bakery Café, mmmuffins
, as well as several others. The group, under Greco, runs nearly 600 restaurants and annually sees about $450 million in revenue.
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the restaurant group Le Duff America, a bakery café chain headquartered in Burlington
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
; Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
; and Toronto, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Early Years and Personal Life
Greco was born in New HavenNew Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and grew up in nearby Hamden, Connecticut
Hamden, Connecticut
Hamden is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant." Hamden is home to Quinnipiac University. The population was 58,180 according to the Census Bureau's 2005 estimates...
. He graduated from Hamden High School
Hamden High School
Hamden High School is a four year high school for grades 9 through 12. It is located at 2040 Dixwell Avenue in Hamden, Connecticut. It is part of the Hamden Public School System and is the only public high school within the town of Hamden....
in 1976, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1980, and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
School of Law, in 1983. Additionally, Greco has completed International Studies at the Cass Business School of City University, London
City University, London
City University London , is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute and became a university in 1966, when it adopted its present name....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Greco is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association
State bar association
A state bar association is a bar association that represents or seeks to represent all of the attorneys in a specific U.S. state. Membership in such an association may be voluntary or mandatory for practitioners in that state. State bar associations may be tasked with the administration of the...
and the Florida Bar Association. As well as being active on the board of advisors for the Lender School of Business at Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Hamden, Connecticut, United States at the foot of Sleeping Giant State Park...
, Greco also serves on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Food Bank
Connecticut Food Bank
The Connecticut Food Bank is a food bank headquartered in East Haven, Connecticut. According to their motto, the bank's sole mission is to "alleviate hunger."...
and the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce. Greco resides in Cheshire, Connecticut
Cheshire, Connecticut
Cheshire is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 28,543 at the 2000 census. The center of population of Connecticut is located in Cheshire. In 2009 Cheshire was ranked 72 in Money Magazine's 100 Best Places to Live.Likewise, in 2011 Cheshire was ranked 73 in...
with his wife, Valerie, and their two sons.
Early Career
After graduaing from law school, Greco served as a partner in Connecticut-based Greco and Greco law firm from 1983 to 1991, specializing in consultation to and representation of real estate and corporate clients.Greco executed one of his first turnarounds as chief operating officer
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
of Ellington
Ellington, Connecticut
Ellington is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. Ellington was incorporated in May, 1786, from East Windsor. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 12,921...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
-based Natural Country Farms
Country Pure Foods
Country Pure Foods makes single-serve, aseptic, frozen, and chilled fruit drinks, juices, nectars, and concentrates for retail food purveyors and foodservice operators. It also provides food manufacturers with fruit ingredients. The company's brand names include Natural Country Farms and Ardmore...
, a manufacturer of private label and food service fruit juices.
Following Natural Country Farms, Greco served as chief executive officer of Fieldbrook Farms
Fieldbrook Farms
Fieldbrook Farms is the brand name of Fieldbrook Foods Corporation, a $100 million manufacturer of private label ice cream and frozen desserts based out of Dunkirk, New York.-History:...
, a $100 million manufacturer of private label ice cream in Dunkirk, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. A team of investors, led by Greco, took over a failing Fieldbrook Farms and named Greco Chief Executive Officer. As CEO, he successfully designed and executed a strategic plan to turn the company around. Greco's efforts resulted in a doubling of profits and a large increase in productivity.
Bruegger's
Greco first joined Bruegger's in 2003, and since his arrival the company has enjoyed consecutive quarters of same store sales growth. Additionally, in 2010, Bruegger's announced $254 million in revenue. Under Greco, Bruegger's has expanded to operating over 300 bakery cafés in 26 states, the District of Columbia, and CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. On November 13, 2009, Greco oversaw Bruegger's eleventh and largest acquisition to occur during his tenure at the company when Bruegger's purchased the restaurant holdings of Timothy's World Coffee
Timothy's World Coffee
Timothy's World Coffee is a large Canadian chain of coffeeshops.-Origin and background:Timothy's was founded in 1975 as a retailer of premium roasted coffee beans by Timothy Snelgrove and his wife Teresa Snelgrove. The company was originated as a business-school project Snelgrove undertook while...
. Through a wholly owned subsidiary called Threecaf Brands Canada Inc., Bruegger's assumed control of Timothy's three restaurant brands: Timothy's World Coffee
Timothy's World Coffee
Timothy's World Coffee is a large Canadian chain of coffeeshops.-Origin and background:Timothy's was founded in 1975 as a retailer of premium roasted coffee beans by Timothy Snelgrove and his wife Teresa Snelgrove. The company was originated as a business-school project Snelgrove undertook while...
, Michel's Bakery Café, and mmmuffins
Mmmuffins
mmmuffins is Canadian coffee and muffin retailer founded in 1979. It granted its first franchise in 1980. The company, which has locations throughout Canada, is one of the largest specialty baked goods franchising companies in Canada. The company was purchased by Timothy's World Coffee in 2002. ...
.
On October 5, 2009, Greco was named Restaurant Operator of the Year by the Nation's Restaurant News
Nation's Restaurant News
Nation's Restaurant News is an American trade publication, founded in 1967, that covers the foodservice industry, including restaurants, restaurant chains, operations, marketing, and events. It is owned by Penton Media, who purchased it from founding company Lebhar-Friedman in December 2010...
during the publication's Golden Anniversary Celebration. He was awarded the honor in Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
at the 50th anniversary Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference. He was selected by readers of the publication from among six nominees, the others being: Chuck Fallon, president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Burger King
Burger King
Burger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...
North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
; Phil Friedman, chairman and chief executive of McAlister's Deli
McAlister's Deli
McAlister's Deli is a chain of fast casual restaurants founded in 1989 in Oxford, Mississippi by retired dentist Dr. Don Newcomb. There are currently over 300 locations in 23 states, ranging from Virginia in the East to Florida in the South to New Mexico in West to Indiana in the Midwest...
; Jeffrey Harvey, president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and chief executive of Burgerville; Randy Kibler, president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and chief executive of Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits; and Cameron Mitchell, president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and chief executive of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants.
Le Duff America
In March of 2011, Groupe Le Duff, a French restaurant group, acquired the Bruegger's chain and its subsidiaries from the investment group Sun Capital Partners, making Groupe Le Duff the second largest bakery café group in the world. Greco was named the CEO of the company's American restaurant holdings under the name Le Duff America. Today, Le Duff America is the parent company of the restaurant chains Bruegger'sBruegger's
Bruegger's Enterprises, Inc., and wholly owned subsidiary Threecaf Brands Canada, Inc., are franchisers and operators of Bruegger's bakery-cafés, Timothy's World Coffee, mmmuffins, and Michel's Baguette....
, La Madeleine
La Madeleine (restaurant chain)
La Madeleine de Corps, Inc., operating as La Madeleine, is a restaurant chain of over 60 locations across the Southern United States extending as far north as Washington, D.C. Its headquarters is in Dallas, Texas.-Overview:...
, Brioche Dorée
Brioche Dorée
Brioche Dorée is a French bakery-café founded in 1976, operating restaurants throughout the world. The company was founded by by Louis Le Duff, current president of Groupe Le Duff, the second largest bakery-café chain in the world. The chain originally started in Brest. It serves over 200,000...
, Timothy's World Coffee
Timothy's World Coffee
Timothy's World Coffee is a large Canadian chain of coffeeshops.-Origin and background:Timothy's was founded in 1975 as a retailer of premium roasted coffee beans by Timothy Snelgrove and his wife Teresa Snelgrove. The company was originated as a business-school project Snelgrove undertook while...
, Michel's Bakery Café, mmmuffins
Mmmuffins
mmmuffins is Canadian coffee and muffin retailer founded in 1979. It granted its first franchise in 1980. The company, which has locations throughout Canada, is one of the largest specialty baked goods franchising companies in Canada. The company was purchased by Timothy's World Coffee in 2002. ...
, as well as several others. The group, under Greco, runs nearly 600 restaurants and annually sees about $450 million in revenue.