Introducing Gray Cat

Gray Cat Enterprises extends the capabilities of your leadership team by providing seasoned executive expertise on demand. Drawing on decades of senior-level experience across retail, foodservice, franchising, and multi-unit operations, we deliver strategic insight, hands-on leadership, and practical solutions that help organizations accelerate growth, improve performance, and successfully execute critical initiatives.

MY BACKGROUND

John Matthews is the President and CEO of Gray Cat Enterprises, a strategic consulting firm specializing in retail, foodservice, franchising, and multi-unit operations. He leads all consulting engagements, providing executive advisory services, interim leadership, strategic planning, consumer marketing, organizational development, and senior-level project management for companies seeking to improve performance and accelerate growth.

With more than 30 years of executive leadership experience, Matthews has built a reputation for helping organizations strengthen operations, enhance profitability, and execute complex business initiatives. His expertise spans marketing, operations, merchandising, category management, mergers and acquisitions, facilities management, real estate, corporate communications, and brand development across the quick-service restaurant, convenience store, and general retail industries.

Before founding Gray Cat Enterprises in 2004, Matthews served as President of Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, Vice President of Marketing, Merchandising, Facilities, Corporate Communications, and Real Estate for Clark Retail Enterprises, and National Marketing Director for Little Caesars Pizza, where he spent nine years helping grow one of the world’s largest restaurant brands.

Today, Matthews works with retailers, franchisors, entrepreneurs, and private equity-backed companies to develop practical strategies that drive sustainable growth, operational excellence, and long-term competitive advantage.

Interim Executive Leadership

Gray Cat can step into an interim executive leadership role in your organization to manage a division and/or company to the P&L level.

Retail, Quick-Service Restaurant and Convenience Store Expertise

25+ years direct corporate retail, quick-service restaurant and convenience operations, marketing, facilities, real estate, corporate communications and merchandising management.

Senior-Level Project Management

Multi-departmental expertise to develop, guide and manage complex projects across your company.

Why I Founded Gray Cat Enterprises

The inspiration to start my own business came from my father. After spending his career as a successful corporate salesperson, he made the courageous decision in his late fifties to become an entrepreneur. Watching him build something of his own showed me that there is never a wrong time to pursue your vision. His example gave me the confidence to leave corporate America after more than two decades in executive leadership and launch Gray Cat Enterprises in 2004.

Throughout my career, I worked with organizations ranging from emerging brands to multi-billion-dollar companies. One common theme became clear: businesses rarely struggle because of a lack of effort—they struggle because they lack strategic alignment. Many companies excel in one discipline, such as sales or operations, but underperform because marketing, financial planning, merchandising, leadership, or execution are disconnected. Sustainable growth requires every part of the business to work together.

I founded Gray Cat Enterprises to help business leaders bridge those gaps. My goal was not simply to provide advice, but to bring practical, executive-level experience to organizations seeking measurable results. Having led marketing, operations, merchandising, real estate, facilities, corporate communications, and strategic initiatives throughout my career, I understand how each function impacts the others—and ultimately the bottom line.

Today, Gray Cat Enterprises focuses on three core service areas:

Interim Executive Leadership – Providing experienced executive management to lead a company, business unit, or critical initiative with full P&L responsibility during periods of transition, growth, or organizational change.

Strategic Planning – Helping organizations define a clear vision, establish measurable objectives, and build actionable plans that align people, resources, and capital with long-term business goals.

Senior-Level Project Management – Leading complex, high-impact projects from concept through implementation while ensuring they are delivered on time, on budget, and aligned with strategic objectives.

What truly differentiates Gray Cat Enterprises is our approach. We are not traditional consultants who deliver recommendations and leave. We serve as an extension of your leadership team—working alongside management to develop strategies, solve problems, execute initiatives, and create lasting value. As an operating consultant, my focus is not simply on producing reports; it is on delivering results that strengthen organizations and position them for long-term success.

"I've had the pleasure of working closely with John for the last 3 years. What sets John apart from the pack is not only the favorable results that he drives, yet it's also in the way he achieves it. He is a quick study on things, yet he always starts with building trust. He seeks to first listen and understand, then based on that, he overlays his skills to solve the problem identified. He collaborates. He is accountable. He is smart. He pushes where appropriate. He is persistent. He is competitive. He always seems to find a path to success. If you are fortunate enough to get the chance to work with John - jump at it!"

- Mark Byers, Safeguard Business Systems (VP Deluxe Corp)

"Global Partners hired John Matthews and Gray Cat and he provided an expertise that we were looking for to enhance our operations across a number of fronts, producing great results. His personality meshes perfectly with our culture and has consistently provided creative solutions in a timely manner. All in all, he has been a tremendous value to our organization in operations, merchandising, marketing and strategic planning. John is a high integrity guy that is a great contributor to the overall success of our team."

- Mark Cosenza, Senior Vice President at Global Partners LP

"John has been an incredible person and partner to work with. Prior to kicking things off, we didn't have a solid framework for building out a 1 or 3 year plan, which are critical building blocks necessary to achieve the exponential growth that we're aiming for:
- Developing employee and company incentive programs
- Developing a series of KPI's to manage our business more precisely
- Built budgetary and planning frameworks
I would highly recommend John as his work and contributions to our business have been incredibly valuable.