Ray Kees

Chef Ray Kees is the Director of Menu & Culinary Innovation at Krispy Krunchy Chicken®, one of the fastest-growing hot food concepts in the convenience store business. Named a 2023 Georgia Grown Executive Chef by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Restaurant Association, Kees is the brand’s first-ever Director of Menu & Culinary Innovation.

Prior to Krispy Krunchy Chicken®, Chef Ray Kees served as Director of Culinary for Krystal Restaurants, LLC, the original quick-service restaurant chain in the South. Before this role, he was Director of Culinary for Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a 1,000+ franchise unit brand that serves fresh food and smoothies. Kees also served as the National Accounts Chef for Mondelēz International and was named Director of Culinary for Back Yard Burgers in 2019.

Chef Ray Kees holds an Associate in Culinary Arts from the Culinary Institute of America. He further developed his culinary knowledge and experience through a variety of upscale restaurants in New Jersey and New York. In addition, he is a Georgia Barbecue Association Certified Judge.