James O’Reilly named CEO of &pizza, Tijuana Flats parent company
He takes over the leadership spot about eight months after Latitude Food Group was formed with the pizza chain’s acquisition of Tijuana Flats.
July 10, 2026
Restaurant industry veteran James O’Reilly has been named chief executive officer of &pizza and Tijuana Flats parent company Latitude Food Group.
He succeeds Cody Towns, Latitude Food Group’s legal counsel and now board member, who was serving as interim CEO during the executive search.
O’Reilly has more than three decades of industry experience, most recently serving as CEO of Ascent Hospitality Management, parent company of Perkins and Huddle House. Prior, he was CEO of Smokey Bones from 2019 to 2023.
He held that same role at Long John Silver’s from 2015 to 2019. He also has executive experience at Sonic Drive-In, Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, and Yum Brands.
O’Reilly joins LFG months after its creation in November, when Washington, D.C.-based &pizza acquired Tex-Mex chain Tijuana Flats. The company is now plotting growth via franchising for the two brands.
“Latitude Food Group has the kind of energy you can feel immediately — bold, ambitious and built for forward motion,” O’Reilly said in a statement. “I was drawn to LFG’s challenger mindset, its relentless focus on growth and its commitment to scaling brands without losing the soul that makes each one distinct. This platform was built to win, and with the support of our investors at Kennedy Lewis, I’m excited to help lead its next chapter as we raise the bar for our guests, franchisees, team members and communities.”
Towns added that O’Reilly is the right leader to advance the company, as he stood out for his experience in building brands and “also his genuine belief in LFG and its potential."
“That conviction, combined with his experience and energy, makes him the right leader for this next chapter. We’re excited about what lies ahead and the perspectives he brings to our leadership team,” Towns said in a statement.
The company said in a press release that both chains are experiencing same-store traffic and sales increases since merging, as they continue to leverage shared resources. Still, O’Reilly joins the company as it works to recover from a tough 2025.
Founded in 2012, &pizza finished 2025 with $53.6 million in sales, marking a 10.5% decline year-over-year. The chain has also closed a bunch of locations, including a 6.5% retrenchment last year versus 2024, according to Technomic, as the broader fast-casual pizza category struggles. Tijuana Flats experienced an 8.1% sales decline in 2025, to $102.1 million, while its footprint decreased by 4.4%.
Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]
Follow her on TikTok: @aliciakelso
About the Author
Alicia Kelso
Executive Editor, Nation's Restaurant News
Alicia Kelso is the executive editor of Nation's Restaurant News. She began covering the restaurant industry in 2010 for QSRweb.com, FastCasual.com, and PizzaMarketplace.com. When her son was born, she left the industry to pursue a role in higher education, but swiftly returned after realizing how much she missed the space. In filling that void, Alicia added a contributor role at Restaurant Dive and a senior contributor role at Forbes.
Her work has appeared in publications around the world, including Forbes Asia, NPR, Bloomberg, The Seattle Times, Crain's Chicago, Good Morning America, and Franchise Asia Magazine.
Alicia holds a degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University, where she competed on the women's swim team. In addition to cheering for the BGSU Falcons, Alicia is a rabid Michigan fan and will talk about college football with anyone willing to engage. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her wife and son.
Follow her on TikTok @aliciakelso
Content Spotlight
The Technomic Top 500: Another tough year for chain restaurants
Top 500 chain restaurant sales slowed again in 2025 as consumers cut back on dining, but sectors like coffee, beverages and snacks and chicken thrived
Featured
Jul 8, 2026
Jul 2, 2026
Recent News
Content Spotlight
Get to know Rick Cardenas, the Darden CEO who started there as a busser
The executive shares his advice, along with his most-binged TV show, favorite sports team, and most-used app
Source: This story originated with Nation's Restaurant News.
View Original Article →