Black Rifle Coffee, a veteran-founded beverage company that went public earlier this year, said Tuesday that it has named former Office Depot and Wendy’s CEO Roland Smith executive chair, effective immediately.
Smith, who is already a member of Black Rifle Coffee’s board of directors, is moving into the role to work more closely with the company’s C-suite to open new brick-and-mortar locations.
Smith was Wendy’s CEO in 2011 and led Office Depot from November 2013 until February 2017. He was appointed CEO of Office Depot shortly after it completed its merger agreement with OfficeMax.
Black Rifle Coffee, founded in 2014 and based in Salt Lake City, is known for selling firearms-themed coffee products such as its “AK-47 Espresso Blend” and “Murdered Out Coffee Roast.”
At the end of the first quarter of 2022, Black Rifle Coffee had 18 locations, up from just four a year earlier. It has said it plans to have 78 stores by the end of 2023.
Black Rifle Coffee’s net sales totaled $233 million for 2021, and it sees that number growing to $315 million this year.
“I see significant opportunities for us to reach more customers through new channels and additional distribution points,” said Smith, in a statement.
