About
Introducing Gray Cat
Gray Cat Enterprises supplements your core staff drawing from its wealth of senior-level management experiences to deliver for you.
John Matthews is the president and CEO of Gray Cat Enterprises and is responsible
for the management of all consulting activities for the firm, which include retail consulting
for multiunit operations; interim divisional or general management leadership; consumer
marketing for companies launching products in the retail sector; and strategic project
management.
His twenty-five years’ experience in retail management includes marketing and
operations management; category management; mergers and acquisitions; facilities
management; and real estate and corporate communications in a spectrum of industries,
including quick service restaurant, convenience store operations, and general retail.
In recent years, Matthews has performed consulting and senior project
management for Quiznos, Sylvan Learning Centers, Starbucks, Global Partners, Potbelly
Sandwiches, The Body Shop, Deluxe, Hungry Howie’s Pizza, and Burt’s Bees in both
marketing and operations functions.
His views have appeared in various newspapers and industry trade publications
including The New York Times, Convenience Store Decisions, Brandweek, Convenience
Store News, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun-Times, and others.
He has spoken before hundreds of business groups and appeared on numerous
radio and television media outlets. In addition, Matthews has written two step-by-step
manuals, Local Store Marketing Manual for Retailers and Grand Opening Manual for
Retailers. His latest book, Game Changing Strategies for Retailers is now on Amazon.
Prior to founding his own company in 2004, Matthews held senior management
positions as president of Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches and as VP of marketing,
merchandising, facilities, corporate communications, and real estate at Clark Retail
Enterprises, Inc. Additionally, Matthews worked for nine years in marketing management
as the national marketing director of the Little Caesars Pizza Corporation.
Matthews was raised in Plymouth, Michigan, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in
communications from Michigan State University.
John's Experience
Jimmy Johns Gourmet Sandwiches, President
Responsible for the management of both the company and franchise network of restaurant locations. Jimmy John’s is a $2 billion, quick service restaurant operator with over 1,800 stores in 40 states.
Clark Retail Enterprises/White Hen Pantry, Vice President of Marketing, Merchandising, Corporate Communications, Facilities & Real Estate
Simultaneously managed four divisions for Clark Retail Enterprises, the 1,400-store, $3 billion convenience store and petroleum marketing company including White Hen Pantry, Wareco, Minit Mart and Hop-In branded stores.
Little Caesar’s, National Marketing Director
Managed and directed all company store and franchise co-op marketing activities in 35 DMA’s for 1,600-stores throughout the United States with an advertising budget exceeding $35 million. Little Caesars is a $2.0 billion, 3000-store quick service pizza restaurant chain.