Scott Lawton Becomes CEO of Uncle Julio’s while RJ Thomas is the new President and COO

According to a press release issued on Monday, Uncle Julio’s, a Mexican restaurant chain with approximately 40 locations, has appointed Scott Lawton as CEO and RJ Thomas as President and COO. Both Lawton and Thomas bring over two decades of experience in the restaurant industry. They succeed Tom Vogel, who served as CEO since 2013 and as CEO and President starting in 2021.

Andrew C. Taub, a managing partner in L Catterton’s Buyout Fund, expressed confidence in the new leadership, citing Scott Lawton’s success at Bartaco and RJ Thomas’s track record in introducing new concepts and innovating restaurant brands. Taub believes that Lawton and Thomas will usher in a new and exciting chapter in Uncle Julio’s story.

Scott Lawton, co-founder of Bartaco in 2011, previously served as president and COO of Barteca Restaurant Group, the parent company of Barcelona Wine Bar and Bartaco. He held this position until the group was acquired by Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group in 2018. After Del Frisco’s acquisition by L Catterton in 2019, Lawton returned to Bartaco as CEO and will now simultaneously hold the position of CEO at Uncle Julio’s, which is also owned by L Catterton. Before joining Barteca in 2007, Lawton was the COO at Big Time Restaurant Group from 2000 to 2006.

During his tenure as Bartaco CEO, Lawton implemented changes to the front-of-house staff following the lifting of COVID-19 dining room restrictions in 2020. The new service model involves service leaders managing zones of customers rather than individual tables. Customers are encouraged to order using QR codes, and payments are made digitally. Additionally, the company adopted a pooled tips system, ensuring that all hourly employees, including back-of-house staff, receive a fair share. The average wages across the company are reported to be $23 per hour.

RJ Thomas most recently held the same positions at King’s Seafood Company, overseeing operations at 24 locations. In this role, Thomas introduced various restaurant concepts, including a steakhouse that generated $13 million in sales during its first year. He also reimagined the Water Grill brand, leading to the opening of six new locations and generating $100 million in revenue.

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