Virtual Dining Concepts (VDC) — the virtual brand incubator founded by industry veteran Robert Earl — named its first CEO.
The company announced the appointment of Stephanie Sollers to the position Wednesday, a move that “positions the company for its planned accelerated growth,” according to a release.
“I am energized to join Robert and the visionary team at VDC,” said Sollers. “Robert is a one-of-a-kind leader and trailblazer. Much of my career has been at fast-paced and high-growth technology companies, and I look forward to continuing that path at VDC by expanding our food technology solutions to help restaurants and continuing to bring digital communities to life.”
Sollers most recently served as Enterprise Partnerships Lead at DoorDash, executing new verticals for delivery-only brands and ghost kitchens.
“From the moment I met Stephanie, I was struck by her insight into the industry, her passionate approach to business and her ability to inspire and get the best out of her team,” Earl said in a statement. “As we gear up for aggressive growth and expansion, with exciting new brands and development of proprietary technology, having Stephanie on board as CEO, with her breadth of experience, strength and knowledge, is precisely what we need to achieve our goals.”
Sollers intends to “source top-tier talent to grow our technology solutions, expand our business globally, and offer best-in-class service to our partners,” she said.
As CEO of Virtual Dining Concepts, Sollers will drive and implement strategic and operational initiatives and lead VDC senior management team to ensure maximum expansion for virtual brands across the global marketplace with a particular focus in fundraising, investor relations and identifying emerging tech opportunities.
Virtual Dining Concepts’ portfolio includes Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Kitchen, Mariah Carey’s Cookies, MrBeastBurger, NASCAR Refuel, Buddy V’s Cake Slice and Barstool Bites. In Oct. 2021, the group’s parent company, Virtual Holdings Inc, received $20 million in Series A funding.