Edible Brands Unites Marketing and Innovation Under New CMO Angela Johnson

ATLANTA, Jan. 27, 2026 – Edible Brands, the parent company of Edible Arrangements® and Rōti® Modern Mediterranean, has promoted veteran brand leader Angela Johnson to the role of Chief Marketing Officer. The appointment signals a significant strategic shift for the company, unifying its marketing and product innovation functions under a single executive to accelerate growth across its portfolio.

In her new, expanded role, Johnson will report directly to CEO Somia Farid Silber and oversee all marketing and innovation for the company's brands, which operate in the celebration, food, and wellness sectors. This move is widely seen within the industry as an effort to create a more agile and customer-responsive organization by breaking down the traditional silos that often separate brand storytelling from product development.

A Unified Strategy for Growth

The decision to merge the roles of marketing and innovation under one leader reflects a growing trend among consumer-facing companies aiming to shorten the distance between customer insight and product reality. By placing both functions under Johnson's purview, Edible Brands is positioning itself to launch more relevant products faster and ensure that its brand narrative is seamlessly woven into every consumer touchpoint, from new menu items to national advertising campaigns.

Johnson's promotion from her previous role as Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer, which she has held since 2021, makes her a natural fit for this integrated position. During her tenure in that role, she was instrumental in guiding the company’s expansion and developing new offerings to meet changing consumer demands.

"Angela has been instrumental in shaping how we think about growth, innovation and relevance across our brands," said Somia Farid Silber, CEO of Edible Brands. "She brings a rare ability to connect strategy, product innovation and brand storytelling in a way that delivers real impact. This expanded role reflects both her proven leadership and our confidence in her ability to bring marketing and innovation together to support continued growth."

For her part, Johnson views the consolidation of responsibilities as a powerful opportunity.

"As Edible Brands continues to expand across celebration, nourishment and wellness, this role creates an opportunity to more closely connect brand storytelling with product innovation and execution," said Johnson. "I'm excited to build on the strong foundation already in place and work alongside this team to create experiences that feel relevant, modern and meaningful for today's consumers."

A Proven Record of Modernization

Johnson brings nearly 25 years of experience to the CMO role, with a strong track record of revitalizing brands and driving growth in franchise-driven businesses. Before joining Edible Brands, she served as Vice President of Marketing at Krystal Restaurants, LLC, where she was a key architect of the fast-food chain's modernization efforts.

At Krystal, she spearheaded the successful launch of third-party delivery and online ordering, significantly expanding customer access and convenience. Her leadership in menu innovation, which included a close partnership with operations and R&D, led to the introduction of the highly successful Hangover Krystal. This initiative was credited with helping the brand achieve a double-digit comparable sales increase, demonstrating her ability to translate creative product development into tangible financial results.

This experience in a fast-paced, franchise-oriented environment is directly applicable to the challenges and opportunities within the Edible Brands portfolio. Her success in digital transformation and menu engineering at Krystal provides a blueprint for how she might approach growth for both the established Edible Arrangements network and the fast-casual Rōti chain.

Empowering the Franchise Network

A critical aspect of Johnson's new mandate is the explicit focus on supporting Edible Brands' extensive network of locally owned franchise partners. The press release highlights a commitment to "strong retail and restaurant execution," a phrase that resonates deeply with franchisees who operate on the front lines of the business.

For the hundreds of Edible Arrangements and Rōti franchisees, Johnson's appointment could usher in an era of more cohesive and effective corporate support. Her background suggests a focus on providing practical tools that drive local success. This includes developing marketing campaigns that are not only nationally resonant but also easily adaptable for local markets. Furthermore, her experience launching digital ordering platforms at Krystal is invaluable for franchisees who increasingly rely on e-commerce and third-party delivery to compete.

By integrating innovation with marketing, the company aims to ensure that new products—whether a new fruit arrangement or a seasonal Mediterranean bowl—are developed with operational feasibility in mind. This alignment is crucial for maintaining brand consistency and customer satisfaction across a geographically diverse franchise system. The goal is to create a symbiotic relationship where corporate innovation directly translates into increased profitability and smoother operations for local owners.

Navigating a Competitive Landscape

The strategic unification of marketing and innovation comes at a critical time for Edible Brands, as both of its primary holdings operate in highly competitive markets. Edible Arrangements, a leader in the gifted fruit-arrangement space, faces ongoing pressure from major online gifting platforms like 1-800-Flowers.com and gourmet food purveyors such as Harry & David. To maintain its edge, the brand must continuously innovate in product design, personalization, and the digital customer experience.

Meanwhile, Rōti Modern Mediterranean competes in the crowded and rapidly evolving fast-casual sector. It vies for market share not only with other Mediterranean concepts like the rapidly expanding Cava but also with fast-casual giants like Chipotle and Sweetgreen, which have set a high bar for digital integration, menu customization, and supply chain transparency. For Rōti to thrive, it must differentiate itself with a compelling brand story and a constant stream of appealing, high-quality menu offerings.

By tasking Angela Johnson with leading a unified marketing and innovation engine, Edible Brands is making a calculated bet that a more integrated, agile, and customer-centric approach is the key to winning in these challenging arenas. The move positions the company to better anticipate market trends and respond with compelling products and stories that capture the attention of today's discerning consumers.