GoTo Foods has appointed Lucy Brady as president of Jamba, bringing a former McDonald’s senior executive to the smoothie and beverage brand as it looks to drive its next phase of growth through its franchise network.
Brady joined GoTo Foods on September 8 and will lead Jamba’s brand strategy, operations and growth, working with franchisees and restaurant teams to strengthen the business and expand its appeal to consumers.
Brady brings extensive experience in consumer brands and digital growth. Before joining GoTo Foods, she was president of Grocery & Snacks at Conagra Brands, overseeing a portfolio of more than 60 brands valued at approximately $5 billion. She previously spent nearly six years at McDonald’s, where she held leadership positions spanning strategy, innovation and digital customer experience. Her work included initiatives such as MyMcDonald’s Rewards, McDelivery and digital ordering.
“Jamba is one of those rare brands that is instantly recognizable,” Brady said. “I am excited to work alongside our brand, franchisee and restaurant teams to make Jamba even more relevant to today’s guests, expand the occasions we serve and deliver an exceptional experience every time.”
Jamba has more than 700 locations, with its U.S. network overwhelmingly franchise-operated. The brand is one of seven restaurant concepts within GoTo Foods, which operates more than 7,300 locations globally through a predominantly franchise-led model.
The franchise network will be central to Jamba’s expansion strategy as the brand continues to develop its menu, restaurant formats and co-branding opportunities. Jamba has expanded beyond its traditional smoothie offering with food and beverage additions, while GoTo Foods has also pursued co-branded locations combining Jamba with brands including Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon.
Brady’s appointment is part of a wider leadership realignment at GoTo Foods. Nathan Baldwin, formerly president of Auntie Anne’s, has been named president of Specialty Brands, adding Cinnabon and Carvel to his responsibilities and overseeing co-branding. Francisco Bram, Chief Growth Officer, has also assumed the role of president of Moe’s Southwest Grill, while Biplav Misra has been appointed Chief Digital and Technology Officer.
GoTo Foods CEO Omer Gajial said the leadership changes are designed to give the company greater agility while maintaining a focus on franchisee performance and brand growth. “Strengthening our leadership structure will create greater organizational agility and allow us to remain focused on what matters most: growing category-leading brands, supporting franchisee success, and delivering experiences that keep guests coming back,” Gajial said.
Brady’s combination of McDonald’s digital and loyalty experience, Conagra’s large-scale brand leadership and consumer strategy experience gives Jamba a senior executive with a background in scaling major food and beverage businesses. Her focus will now shift to translating that experience across Jamba’s franchise system and positioning the brand for its next stage of expansion.
Founded in California, Jamba is a smoothie and juice brand with more than 700 locations. It is part of GoTo Foods, the multi-brand franchising company behind Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, Cinnabon, McAlister’s Deli, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Schlotzsky’s.
