Five Star Food Service strengthens executive team with promotions of Stephanos, Parks and Field

Five Star Food Service Inc. promoted three key company leaders to new executive positions. The promotions will allow the regional convenience services firm to “right-size” its corporate organizational structure for its 35-branch multi-state operation. In their new roles, Mark Stephanos, Jeff Parks and Frank Field will provide the leadership and support to drive Five Star’s continued growth.

Stephanos becomes executive vice president of operations, a post added to the company’s management structure. He recently served as the senior vice president of retail operations. He brings 40 years’ experience in vending, micro markets, refreshment services, corporate dining and food production to his expanded role of overseeing all service lines companywide. “This is a well-deserved and logical next step in his storied career,” said Five Star president and chief executive Richard Kennedy.

Parks, previously president of Five Star’s Atlanta region, will now serve as the company’s senior vice president of retail operations. He assumes Stephanos’ prior role. Parks’ expanded responsibility give him oversight of all micro market and vending operations. He has 34-years of industry experience, joining Five Star in late 2018 through acquisition of Southern Refreshment Services. “I am excited to expose his leadership to our entire organization and am looking forward to everyone receiving the benefit of his capabilities,” Kennedy said.

Field, who joined Five Star 14 months ago as director of strategic initiatives, has been promoted to vice president of retail support. Field spent the prior five years leading the micro market and purchasing functions for Imperial, a prominent Canteen franchise. A necessary addition to the Five Star executive team, Field’s new position is the result of the company’s commitment to the retail experience and incredible recent growth. He will oversee all corporate operational support teams including the areas of retail administration, execution, compliance, loss prevention and acquisition integration. “Frank has been a great asset for us. His operations acumen and servant leadership mentality make him a great fit for this new role,” Kennedy commented.

Headquartered in Chattanooga, TN, Five Star Food Service is an operator of micro markets, full-line vending, pantry, coffee and water services, dining and catering, fresh food production, coffee roasting, secured delivery and sustainable products. Founded in 1993, Five Star is one of the largest privately held convenience services firms in the U.S. and the largest franchise of Canteen, a Compass Group company. It operates in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee.