Kind Hospitality
Kind Hospitality is a privately-held multi-brand restaurant franchisee and licensee operating 54 locations across Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, and Utah, specializing in airport and street-side casual dining through brands including Panera Bread, Macayo's, Fazoli's, and Barrio Brewing Co.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersMesa, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Kind Hospitality does
Kind Hospitality, Inc. is a privately-held, founder-owned multi-brand restaurant management company headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, with an additional home office in Mesa. Founded in 1996 and operational in airports since 2005, the company develops, franchises, and licenses branded food and beverage concepts at both airport terminals and street-side retail locations across Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, and Utah. Its portfolio spans ten brands: Panera Bread and Macayo's Mexican Food as franchise relationships; Native Grill & Wings and Fazoli's as additional franchise brands; O.H.S.O. Brewery, Barrio Brewing Co., Virtu Honest Craft, Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters, and Queen Creek Olive Mill as license relationships; plus Uno Pizzeria & Grill at Dallas Fort Worth. As of 2024, the company operates 54 locations and employs over 1,600 teammates, and holds an ACDBE (Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) certification that has been central to its airport concession access since the original HMS Host partnership.
The company's underlying operating technology is described as 'restaurant operations technology for multi-unit, multi-brand hospitality management' but no proprietary software platform, AI/ML systems, or distinct technology moat is disclosed. A Director of IT with three decades of POS and lodging systems experience oversees the technology stack. The business model combines three revenue mechanics: direct restaurant operations revenue (as brand owner/operator and licensee), franchise fees and royalties flowing through multi-unit franchise agreements, and one-time licensing fees from licensee arrangements. The company does not publicly disclose per-unit pricing; menu pricing is set at the brand level by each franchisor or by the company for owned brands. Distribution is exclusively through physical restaurant locations, with no direct-to-consumer or digital channel of meaningful scale.
Go-to-market relies on three channel types: franchise and licensed operations at major airports (Phoenix Sky Harbor, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway, Charlotte-Douglass, Salt Lake City, Dallas Fort Worth, Deer Valley), franchise and licensed street-side restaurants across Arizona communities, and licensee-operated specialty retail concepts. The customer base is bifurcated between institutional counterparties (airport authorities and brand owners/franchisors) and high-volume, fragmented end consumers (airport travelers and local diners). Marketing is primarily local: the company website, social media, earned media coverage of openings and community events, and participation in community initiatives such as the Phoenix Heart Walk. Founder and CEO Nava Singam has led the company for 26 years; senior leadership includes an Executive VP of Accounting, VP of Airport Operations, multiple Directors of Operations (including at DFW and Salt Lake City), Director of Training, Director of IT, and unit-level general managers. No external private equity, venture capital, or institutional investor involvement is evident in available materials.
Kind Hospitality firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kind Hospitality
- Legal name
- Kind Hospitality, Inc.
- Website
- https://kindhospitality.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Kind Hospitality is a privately-held multi-brand restaurant franchisee and licensee operating 54 locations across Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, and Utah, specializing in airport and street-side casual dining through brands including Panera Bread, Macayo's, Fazoli's, and Barrio Brewing Co.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kind Hospitality industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Restaurant Operations and Hospitality Management
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Limited-Service Restaurants (722513), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251), Caterers (72232)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating Places (5812), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- All-Day Dining Restaurants (THAFACAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fine Dining Restaurants (THAFACAA), Hotel & Resort Restaurants (THAFACAH)
Keywords
Where Kind Hospitality is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mesa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Kind Hospitality business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Restaurant Operations Revenue: Revenue generated from operating multiple restaurant brands as franchisee, licensee, and direct operator across airport and street-side locations. Relationships include Brand Owner & Operator, Franchisee, and Licensee models.
- Franchise Fees: Multi-unit franchise operations generating revenue through multiple branded restaurant locations including Panera Bread, Macayo's Mexican Food, Native Grill & Wings, Fazoli's, O.H.S.O. Brewery, and Barrio Brewing Co.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Kind Hospitality product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kind Hospitality is a multi-brand restaurant management company that operates franchise, licensee, and direct brand-owner restaurants at airport terminals and street-side locations across Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, and Utah. With a portfolio spanning Panera Bread, Macayo's Mexican Food, Native Grill & Wings, Fazoli's, O.H.S.O. Brewery, Barrio Brewing Co., Virtu Honest Craft, Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters, Queen Creek Olive Mill, and Uno Pizzeria & Grill, the company manages 54 locations and over 1,600 teammates. It was founded in 1996 and began airport operations in 2005 as an ACDBE-certified firm in partnership with HMS Host.
Product overview
Kind Hospitality is a restaurant hospitality management company operating a diversified portfolio of well-known restaurant brands as a brand owner/operator, franchisee, and licensee. The company specializes in elevated dining experiences at airport and street-side quick-service locations across Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, and Utah. Their portfolio includes Panera Bread (franchisee), Macayo's Mexican Food, Native Grill & Wings, Fazoli's, O.H.S.O. Brewery, Barrio Brewing Co., Virtu Honest Craft, Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters, Queen Creek Olive Mill, and Uno Pizzeria & Grill. With expertise in street-side operations and airport operations, they manage locations from single units to entire airport terminals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Panera Bread Bakery-café franchise offering sandwiches, salads, soups, and baked goods. Operated by Kind Hospitality at multiple airport and street-side locations across Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, and Utah.
- Macayo's Mexican Food Arizona-based Mexican restaurant chain featuring traditional Mexican cuisine including award-winning salsa. Operated at multiple street-side locations across the Phoenix metro area and one airport location.
- Native Grill & Wings Family-friendly sports bar franchise established in Phoenix in 1979, featuring wings, pizzas, sliders, burgers, sandwiches, fish, and gluten-friendly options. Operated at six Arizona locations.
- Fazoli's Italian fast-food restaurant franchise serving sandwiches, salads, wings, pizza, specialty pastas, baked dishes, and signature breadsticks. Operated at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Terminal 4 and Mesa Riverview.
- O.H.S.O. Brewery Nanobrewery and restaurant featuring craft beers and pub fare, operated as a licensee at Phoenix Sky Harbor and Phoenix Mesa Gateway airport locations.
- Barrio Brewing Co. Tucson-based craft brewery founded in 1991, operated by Kind Hospitality at Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport and Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, known for Sonoran Dogs and craft beer.
- Virtu Honest Craft Craft restaurant and bar concept featuring honest craft food and beverages, operated at a Scottsdale street-side location.
- Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters Certified coffee lab, roastery, and training center founded in 2015 in Tempe, Arizona, offering coffees, cold brews, matcha tea lattes, espresso drinks, specialty drinks, bakery items, salads, and sandwiches. Operated by Kind Hospitality at Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport.
- Queen Creek Olive Mill Arizona-based olive mill and restaurant offering handcrafted olive oils, balsamic reductions, and Mediterranean cuisine. Operated by Kind Hospitality at Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport baggage claim with a retail component for travelers.
- Uno Pizzeria & Grill Pizza and grill restaurant chain franchise offering pizza, pasta, and grill items, operated by Kind Hospitality at Dallas Fort Worth Airport.
- Panera Bread Regional Catering Regional catering service for meetings and events, offered through Kind Hospitality's Panera Bread relationship with a dedicated regional catering manager.
Quantifiable outcome
- Grew portfolio from 6 to 30+ restaurants since 2013 under current leadership
Companies that use Kind Hospitality
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Kind Hospitality technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Kind Hospitality partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered growth and core.
- Queen Creek Olive MillgrowthLicense relationship for airport location at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport baggage claim. Retail component featuring olive oils, balsamic reductions, and tapenades from the Arizona-based producer.
- Infusion Coffee & Tea CraftersgrowthLicense relationship for airport operations. Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters founded in 2015 in Tempe, Arizona as a certified coffee lab, roastery and training center. Expanded to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
- Fazoli'scoreFranchise relationship bringing Fazoli's Italian cuisine back to Arizona after 15-year hiatus. Includes both airport and street-side locations. Partnership focused on westward expansion for the Fazoli's brand.
- Native Grill & WingscoreFranchise relationship with three initial locations, growing to six locations across Arizona. Brand established in Phoenix in 1979 offering family-friendly sports bar environment.
- Barrio Brewing Co.coreLicensee relationship since 2016, operating Barrio Brewing Co. locations at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport since 2017 and expanded to Deer Valley Airport. Tucson-based craft brewery brand.
- HMS HostcoreInitial partnership in 2005 that gave Kind Hospitality the opportunity to start with one location at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport as an ACDBE firm. HMS Host provided mentorship and support that enabled the company's growth into a multi-state operation.
- City of PhoenixcoreAirport authority partner providing access to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport operations and ongoing support for the company's airport restaurant portfolio.
- Panera BreadcoreFranchise relationship for Panera Bread operations at multiple airports including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway, Charlotte, Salt Lake City, Dallas Fort Worth, and Tucson locations.
- Macayo's Mexican FoodcoreLong-standing Arizona Mexican food brand with multiple street-side locations and airport presence. Established brand known for Best Salsa recognition in Best of the Valley awards.
- O.H.S.O. BrewerygrowthBrewery and restaurant operations at Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Recognized for Best Distillery and Best Patio in Phoenix awards.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves14 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kind Hospitality competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- OTG Management: Airport hospitality operator known for CIBO Express and multi-brand restaurant concepts in major US airport terminals. Directly comparable in airport-only multi-brand operating model and target passenger base.
- Paradies Lagardère: Airport dining and retail concessionaire operating branded restaurant and retail concepts across North American airports. Closely comparable multi-brand, multi-format airport operating approach.
- HMSHost (Avolta): Largest North American airport food & beverage concessionaire, and Kind Hospitality's foundational partner since 2005. Operates a multi-brand portfolio across major US airports using a comparable franchisee/licensee model — directly comparable in airport F&B scope.
- SSP America: Major airport restaurant operator running hundreds of branded restaurants across North American airports under similar franchise and license structures. Directly comparable as a multi-brand airport F&B concessionaire competing for the same airport RFPs.
- Delaware North: Hospitality and food service company with significant airport concessions operations. Comparable in airport F&B multi-brand operations, though it spans a broader portfolio including sports and parks venues.
- Flynn Restaurant Group: Largest US franchisee operator running Taco Bell, Applebee's, Panera, Wendy's, and Arby's units. Directly comparable as a multi-brand franchisee operating at scale, although street-side-focused rather than airport-focused.
- Areas USA: Airport and travel hub F&B concessionaire operating branded restaurant concepts in US airports and motor travel plazas. Comparable airport-anchored multi-brand operator with similar franchisee relationships.
- Concessions International: Airport food and beverage concessionaire operating branded restaurant concepts across multiple US airports. Comparable in multi-brand airport F&B operating model and franchisor relationships.
- Yadav Enterprises: Large multi-brand franchisee operating Jack in the Box, Denny's, Pizza Hut, and other concepts across the western US. Comparable as a multi-brand franchisee at scale with similar geographic focus.
- GPS Hospitality: Multi-brand restaurant franchisee operating Burger King, Popeyes, and Pizza Hut units across the eastern US. Comparable multi-brand franchisee operating model, though with different brand mix and airport exposure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kind Hospitality compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Kind Hospitality financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kind Hospitality leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Kind Hospitality subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
Kind Hospitality funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kind Hospitality M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kind Hospitality
What does Kind Hospitality do?
Kind Hospitality is a multi-brand restaurant management company that operates franchise, licensee, and direct brand-owner restaurants at airport terminals and street-side locations across Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, and Utah. With a portfolio spanning Panera Bread, Macayo's Mexican Food, Native Grill & Wings, Fazoli's, O.H.S.O. Brewery, Barrio Brewing Co., Virtu Honest Craft, Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters, Queen Creek Olive Mill, and Uno Pizzeria & Grill, the company manages 54 locations and over 1,600 teammates. It was founded in 1996 and began airport operations in 2005 as an ACDBE-certified firm in partnership with HMS Host.
Is Kind Hospitality a public or private company?
Kind Hospitality is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Kind Hospitality founded?
Kind Hospitality was founded in 1996. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Kind Hospitality based?
Kind Hospitality is headquartered in Mesa, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kind Hospitality make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Restaurant Operations Revenue is the primary driver. The others are franchise Fees.
Who are Kind Hospitality's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are OTG Management, Paradies Lagardère, HMSHost (Avolta), SSP America, Delaware North, Flynn Restaurant Group, Areas USA, Concessions International, Yadav Enterprises and GPS Hospitality.
Does Kind Hospitality have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kind Hospitality.
What industry is Kind Hospitality in?
Kind Hospitality's product category is Restaurant Operations and Hospitality Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAJ, All-Day Dining Restaurants, with a secondary code of THAFACAA, Fine Dining Restaurants. Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5812.