Management evolution positions Savory for its subsequent part of development, pairing Dover’s brand-scaling experience at Elevating Cane’s and Velvet Taco with Smith’s expanded strategic imaginative and prescient
Salt Lake Metropolis, UT (Restaurant Information Launch) Savory Fund, an progressive non-public fairness agency centered on scaling rising restaurant manufacturers comparable to Swig, Mo’ Bettahs, and Houston TX Sizzling Hen, as we speak introduced the appointment of Clay Dover as Chief Government Officer and the promotion of co-founder Shauna Ok. Smith from CEO to Managing Director. These management strikes bolster Savory’s potential to assist founder-led manufacturers whereas scaling high-growth ideas throughout the nation.
“This can be a significant milestone for Savory and a pure subsequent step in our evolution,” mentioned Andrew Ok. Smith, co-founder and Managing Director of Savory Fund. “Shauna’s promotion to Managing Director permits her to spend extra time driving worth creation throughout our manufacturers, supporting founders, and shaping our long-term funding technique. Pairing that with Clay’s operational management as CEO strengthens our platform in a robust manner – inserting Savory in an excellent higher place to guide the rising restaurant funding area.”
Dover brings greater than three many years of restaurant business expertise, together with govt management roles at Elevating Cane’s, Pei Wei, and most lately as CEO of Velvet Taco. At Elevating Cane’s, he served as President and CMO, main technique, advertising and marketing, and operations for the juggernaut model. As Velvet Taco, he oversaw 1000% gross sales development and 1250% unit enlargement – rising it from 4 models to 54 in his practically 9 years main the model – whereas additionally guiding operational execution, group growth, and advertising and marketing technique. Dover’s monitor file of scaling rising and high-growth manufacturers makes him an ideal match for Savory’s platform.
“Becoming a member of Savory is a once-in-a-career alternative – an opportunity to take what I’ve realized constructing nationwide manufacturers and apply it to a platform of founder-led ideas,” Dover mentioned. “Savory is constructed by individuals who genuinely care about their manufacturers, their groups, and rising issues the best manner. The mission – serving to manufacturers scale with out dropping what makes them particular – really resonates with me. I’m thrilled to work alongside Andrew and Shauna to construct on this extremely robust basis.”
Below Shauna Smith’s management, Savory has grown to 13 portfolio corporations producing greater than $515 million in annual income and supporting over 9,200 jobs in 2025. Together with her promotion to Managing Director, Smith joins a uncommon group: In response to the Colombia College of Enterprise, solely 5 p.c of personal fairness companies are female-founded, and solely 4 p.c have feminine managing companions and CEOs.
“I’m happy with the platform we’ve constructed and honored to step into this expanded position,” mentioned Shauna Smith, who has led the Savory platform for eight years as each President after which CEO. “Clay has carried out precisely what we do at Savory – scale rising manufacturers into family names. I’m energized to hyperlink arms with him and Andrew as we tackle this subsequent chapter collectively.”
Based in 2018 by Andrew and Shauna Smith to again founder-led restaurant ideas, Savory Fund now spans 370+ eating places throughout 26 states. With this expanded management group, the agency is poised to amplify its portfolio and drive daring new development throughout its manufacturers.
About Savory Fund
Savory is an progressive non-public fairness agency that mixes over $750 million in property below administration with a development playbook and experience that has been developed over 18 years of working within the restaurant business. Savory companions with high-potential, worthwhile, rising restaurant manufacturers, to ship monetary capital, business experience, development and income alternatives, profitability enhancements and new location growth. The Savory group contributes on to all features of development and replication by utilizing a confirmed playbook and methodology. Founder involvement within the enlargement of a model is a central theme of the Savory strategy as founders carry the tribal data across the uniqueness that has energized early success and is important to future development. Savory is at present invested within the following manufacturers: Swig, R&R BBQ, PINCHO, By way of 313 Pizzeria, Mo’ Bettahs Hawaiian Model Meals, 86 Repairs, Saigon Hustle, Hash Kitchen, The Sicilian Butcher, Houston TX Sizzling Hen, South Block, Bonrue Bakery, and Hawkers. For extra info, go to SavoryFund.com.
Contact:
Josiah Kinman
Champion
936-615-8979
jkinman@championmgt.com
