An industry veteran with a proven track record of strategic vision, brand building, financial management and operational success. Prior to joining Mooyah Burgers and Fries, Alan served as President and COO of Freebirds World Burrito where he steered the brand from a start up entrepreneurial concept to regional cult status. Alan was instrumental in completing the strategically planned acquisition of the brand in 2008. Alan is a very active advocate of the Fast Casual space and is regularly asked to share his experiences on the path to success at industry-related functions at the national level. Alan currently serves on the Executive Board of the Fast Casual Alliance as Vice president.

Media Mentions:

Austin American Statesman - March 30, 2006
"We've been very deliberate in our growth. We've been careful not to grow too fast, and we've stayed regional - there are locations in College Station, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and now Lubbock. That's one of the reasons we don't franchise," Hixon explains, so the company can control the quality and continue nurturing that quirky "Freebirds culture."

Fast Casual - Dec 2005 / Jan 2006
Top 100 Movers and Shakers in Fast Casual
# 57 Alan Hixon, COO, Freebirds World Burrito
"Alan has to be the most pure brand scientist we have ever met".

Fast Casual Oct/Nov 2005 (Cover story)
"We spend a great deal of time and effort evaluating markets and locations. We are focused on unit economics and good locations versus just getting a specific number of stores on the ground," Hixon said.

Food and Drink - July / August 2005
Alan Hixon, president and COO of Freebirds World Burrito Ltd., says great ideas are essential in the restaurant business. "I think in the restaurant business, you'll find a handful of great concepts and then you'll find hundreds of knock-offs of every one of those," he says. "When you find that handful, you've really got something." Hixon says that he doesn't doubt that Freebirds is one of those great concepts, and it regularly provides him with a high enjoyment level.

Chain Leader - August 2005
Chain Leader recently checked in with Alan Hixon, president and chief operating officer of Freebirds World Burrito, a privately held company based in College Station, Texas, where founder and Chairman Pierre Dubé opened the first two units. Hixon is midway through a strategic growth plan that ends in 2007 and says 2006 is the concept's break-out year. The 12-unit chain will open at least six new units, several outside of Texas for the first time. We grilled the restaurant veteran on how Freebirds has funded its growth since he joined the company in 1998.