Industry News

RealFood accelerates growth in Southeast region with acquisition of Florida firm, Jax Design Group, Inc.

Experience-focused foodservice design company expands in education and healthcare design sectors

Newton, Mass. (May 11, 2023) – RealFood Hospitality, Strategy & Design (RealFood), a premier hospitality strategy and design firm meeting the foodservice design, development and strategic advisory objectives of the global foodservice industry, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Jax Design Group, Inc., a Florida-based foodservice design consulting firm that specializes in healthcare, community living, education, institutional and hospitality food facility design.

The acquisition further expands RealFood’s footprint and site administration capabilities in the southeast region of the United States, while multiplying the company’s depth of foodservice facility design expertise in key market segments, adding capacity to support clients’ architectural design process. 

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“Our philosophy of experience-first has always guided us, in both our approach to client relationships and to our design work,” said Ed Doyle, president of RealFood. “John and his company bring many longstanding relationships to our orbit, and we share the commitment of approaching every engagement as a trusted resource and advisor to all project stakeholders. This acquisition deepens our market sector knowledge in key segments, like education and healthcare, and adds to our ability to innovate and create on behalf of our clients.”  

Since 2005, Jax Design Group has been providing foodservice design consulting services to clients, which include primarily architectural firms, mechanical and marine engineering groups, school foodservice directors, and club managers. Founder of the company, John Zerebny, FSCI, will continue to work as part of the RealFood team, managing client relationships and providing technical design advisory. 

“Our knowledge of operational practices, foodservice equipment and specialized market segments has always given us a unique understanding of our clients’ needs, and I strongly believe that RealFood will deliver on that and more,” commented Zerebny. “The design capabilities and operational understanding of the RealFood team are very advanced, and I am confident that, together, we will provide the highest level of design output to project teams.” 

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RealFood’s collective portfolio now includes more than 750 domestic and international clients, including: resorts and hotels; multi-unit and independent restaurants; breweries and wineries; golf and country clubs; amusement parks; family entertainment centers; workplace and institutional dining facilities; event and conference venues; public and private education; healthcare and lifecare communities; religious institutions; marine design; and mixed-use and unique foodservice spaces. 

About RealFood

Founded in 1996, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy & Design is a premier hospitality strategy and design firm meeting the foodservice design, development and strategic advisory objectives of the global foodservice industry. In addition, RealFood provides management services to a select portfolio of hospitality venues, managing and supervising daily operation functions. Leveraging its team’s combined more than 250 years of hospitality experience and using proprietary processes to achieve concept and design outcomes that are based in operational understanding, RealFood supports clients and partners to achieve industry-leading foodservice operations. The RealFood portfolio includes Fortune 500 companies, James Beard Award-winning chefs, world-class clubs and resorts, renowned theme parks, K-12 school systems, and leading architects, developers and operators committed to a vision of delivering differentiated hospitality experiences. 

RealFood is a Troon Company, supporting the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company’s award-winning food and beverage division, which operates and manages 600-plus food and beverage operations located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities. Troon is headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., with properties located in 45-plus states and 30-plus countries.

For additional news and information, visit rfhsd.com. For additional news and information about Troon, visit Troon.com.

Media Contacts:
Joëlle Creamer
603.657.8157
joellec@rfhsd.com

Rob Myers
Troon
480.477.0506
rmyers@troon.com


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