BURGER KING HAS NEW CEO
By Adnews Staff
London-based Grand Metropolitan's Burger King unit has named Robert Lowes as chief executive officer. His goal is to keep the fast-food chain on the sales fast track on which it has been running for the past couple of years. Burger King's sales increased 9.3% in 1994 and 5.3% in 1993. It's basic product will continue to be the Whopper hamburger. Lowes is planning to open 500 new outlets a year, with a goal of 12,000 total by the year 2000. Currently, the chain has 7,800 outlets in 57 countries. Formerly, Lowes was CEO of Grand Met's European food sector. He has also worked at H.J. Heinz, General Foods Corp. and Philip Morris. He replaces James Adamson who left in January to head up Flagstar Cos. in Spartanburg, South Carolina.