Smokey Bones Appoints Ken Brendemihl as President, Focuses on Inefficiency Elimination.

Twin Hospitality Group, parent company of Smokey Bones, has appointed Ken Brendemihl as President of Smokey Bones. Brendemihl has over 25 years of restaurant leadership experience. The company has launched a full spending review across both brands to eliminate inefficiencies and refocus on high-return initiatives. Smokey Bones has amassed a loyal following over the years, but the company is looking to improve its performance.

Twin Hospitality Group Inc. (Nasdaq: TWNP), the parent company of Smokey Bones, has appointed Ken Brendemihl as President of Smokey Bones, effective immediately. Brendemihl brings over 25 years of restaurant leadership experience, having previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Alamo Drafthouse and held key leadership roles at Velvet Taco, California Pizza Kitchen, Texas Roadhouse, and On the Border [1].

The appointment coincides with a strategic update for the brand. Twin Hospitality Group has launched a full spending review across both brands to eliminate inefficiencies, uncover synergies, and refocus on high-return initiatives. The company has also been reviewing the Smokey Bones portfolio, closing underperforming units, and identifying strong candidates for conversion to better-performing Twin Peaks lodges. As of the end of the fiscal third quarter, ten underperforming Smokey Bones locations have been closed, and five more will be closed before the end of the quarter [1].

Smokey Bones, which was acquired as a 60-unit concept by FAT Brands Inc. (Nasdaq: FAT) in 2023 and subsequently spun off into Twin Hospitality in January 2025, has seen two conversions to Twin Peaks lodges completed, with significantly higher average unit volumes (AUVs) of approximately $7.8 million compared to approximately $3.5 million as Smokey Bones. A third conversion is currently under construction and expected to open later this year [1].

The remaining portfolio of 26 Smokey Bones locations is generating positive cash flow and contributed approximately $3.0 million to total EBITDA on a trailing 12-month basis, with AUVs ranging from $1.3 to $7.1 million and healthy unit-level margins. Looking ahead, the company will leverage FAT Brands’ proven franchise model to begin franchising a portion of the remaining Smokey Bones locations, creating a more balanced corporate-to-franchise mix and unlocking additional growth potential for the brand [1].

Kim Boerema, CEO of Twin Hospitality Group, stated, "Smokey Bones is a beloved brand that has amassed a loyal following over the years. Ken will step in immediately bringing his deep operational expertise and proven track record to lead Smokey Bones into its next chapter." Brendemihl expressed his excitement about the new role, stating, "I look forward to hitting the ground running as we embark on this transitional period that will set the foundation for Smokey Bones’ long-term success" [1].

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/twin-hospitality-group-inc-announces-130000556.html