Key Deal Facts
Honeybee Burger is positioned to take advantage of the twin tail-winds of increasing demand for plant-based food, and Americans' large and growing appetite for fast-food of every kind, and burgers specifically
Major studies show that plant-based diets and reduced meat intake are a top priority for Gen Z and Millennials - over 150MM people in the US alone!
Honeybee Burger has already established its presence in LA, and has a large and growing social following (17k+ Instagram followers), great reviews (4.5 stars), thousands of customers served from its pilot locations, and managed to be profitable during 2020 despite the pandemic
Management Team / Advisory Board Bios
Adam Weiss, CEO & Director
Adam is a long time finance professional, having built multiple hedge funds and working on Wall Street for years. Adam starting investing in the plant based restaurant space with Cafe Gratitude almost 10 years ago, and since then has invested in several other food and plant-based businesses. He formed Virtuous Foods three years ago to focus on these efforts, and committed full time to launching and growing Honeybee back in late 2018.
Jeremy Adler, Hospitality Partner
Jeremy began his hospitality career in 1996, shucking oysters and plating desserts at Pinot Bistro. After earning his Hospitality Administration degree from Cornell University, Jeremy moved to NYC. He was privileged to learn hospitality from legendary restaurant operators like Joe Bastianich and Danny Meyer.
When Jeremy became General Manager at EN Japanese Brasserie in NYC and Eveleigh in Los Angeles, he led both restaurants to more than double their revenue. After the birth of his daughter, Annabella, Jeremy became a Hospitality Consultant for numerous Los Angeles area hospitality businesses, including Shutters on the Beach, Chateau Marmont, and Venice Ale House. Jeremy was there at the beginning, helping design the menu and manage the operations of the Honeybee pilot store in Los Feliz. Jeremy continues to work on the menu, refining recipes and creating new menu items. He also helps to manage the development of new locations.
Brian Cikigil, Operations and Execution Partner
Brian has been with Honeybee from Day 1, tirelessly working on many aspects of the business, including getting the Honeybee pilot store and cloud location open on time. Brian is a career finance professional, focusing on operations and reporting, and has worked on Wall Street and in California for several noteworthy firms. He is familiar with multiple technology platforms used in financial reporting, and has acted in the role of technology integration for several firms, including for Honeybee. Brian is primarily responsible for daily operations of Honeybee stores and corporate activities outside the kitchen. This includes all technology integration (apps, comms, POS), as well as HR, logistics, and marketing and promotions, specifically through third party delivery apps.
Ophelia Weiss, Design and Customer Experience Partner
Ophelia is an ex-finance professional, having worked at Merrill Lynch and other banks in institutional sales. She left finance to pursue her passion for design and earned a degree in design from the New York School of Interior Design in 2005. Ophelia designed the initial and distinctive template for Honeybee with the specific goal of appealing to women and young families while embracing our unique ethos. Her use of bright color blocks, natural/organic elements, and 8-bit visuals has created one of the most iconic brands in fast food.
Jorge Hurtado, Kitchen Operations Manager
Jorge Hurtado has been in the food service industry since 2009, working in various capacities throughout the back of house (BOH), including everything from prep, to cook, to kitchen manager. Jorge joined Honeybee after our launch and was integral in helping streamline prep, food ordering and inventory management. He is responsible for all kitchen management and back of house operations, including COGS management and menu optimization. Jorge also leads our recruiting, training, and managing of BOH staff. Jorge's energy and passion for cooking has made him an excellent and passionate team member, and he will be deeply involved in the opening of new stores, kitchen management, and menu development and execution.
