GoTo Foods CEO Jim Holthouser Steps Down Suddenly

Jim Holthouser, who has led GoTo Foods as CEO since early 2020, will depart the company on Tuesday. Holthouser joined GoTo Foods, then known as Focus Brands, from the hotel industry. He spearheaded a significant rebranding initiative, shifting the company's identity to GoTo Foods to better highlight its strengths as a franchisor. The company has not yet provided further details regarding Holthouser's departure or any succession plans.

Under Holthouser's tenure, GoTo Foods pursued a strategy of nontraditional and co-branded expansion. Notable initiatives included Auntie Anne's targeting airport locations for street-level growth and the creation of the Cinnabon Swirl dual-brand concept. This forward-thinking approach set the stage for considerable growth, with GoTo Foods reporting 1,177 franchise agreements in 2024, a mix of domestic and international units.

Holthouser, an industry outsider upon joining, expressed pride in the company's transformation, emphasizing digital, operational, and cultural advancements achieved through strategic thinking and hard work rather than simply outspending competitors. His leadership navigated the complexities of the restaurant sector, leveraging his background in analytics and branding from the hotel industry while adapting to finance, tech, and legal aspects of the food business.