John Paul “JP” Thomas

John Paul Thomas is a seasoned restaurant industry executive with nearly 20 years of experience, which has been marked by a relentless pursuit of operational excellence, a passion for delivering unparalleled guest satisfaction, and a keen eye for leveraging technology to enhance both the employee and customer experience.

In 2017, John Paul joined honeygrow, a wholesome and nutritious fast casual chain serving stir-fry, salad, and honeybars. Initially a District Manager, John Paul quickly escalated to Regional Manager, then Director of Operations, and is currently Vice President, Operational Services. In this leadership role, John Paul oversees the Supply Chain, Training, Technology, Catering, Culinary, Food Safety, and Guest Response teams, ensuring the seamless operation and providing the exceptional quality that honeygrow is celebrated for. During his tenure, honeygrow has enhanced its operational efficiencies, more than doubled its number of locations, and elevated the guest experience in all restaurants.

Prior to joining honeygrow, John Paul held roles of Area Manager at Chipotle as well as General Manager and Regional Training Manager at California Pizza Kitchen. In both roles, John Paul honed his operational and training skills, which gave him the hands-on experience that quickly propelled him to become a leader in the restaurant industry.

A visionary leader, John Paul is deeply committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and innovation. His strategic vision has been instrumental in developing innovative training programs, optimizing supply chain logistics, and introducing cutting-edge culinary practices that not only meet, but exceed industry standards.

John Paul sits on the Customer Advisory Board (CAB) for Restaurant 365 and is a member of OLO’s Product Advisory Council. He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.