Mark Rush

Senior food and hospitality leader with 30+ years’ experience scaling restaurant brands, building commercially robust food systems, and leading menu strategy across multi-site hospitality groups.

Previously

Head of Food for The Fulham Shore overseeing Franco Manca and The Real Greek across 100+ locations nationwide. Proven track record delivering commercially scalable food concepts spanning QSR, casual dining, premium hospitality, manufacturing, food halls, delivery platforms, and growth-stage brands. Recognised for translating chef-led creativity into operationally executable systems without compromising quality, brand identity, or profitability.

Deep expertise in menu architecture, supplier strategy, central production, margin optimisation, rollout frameworks, and cross-functional operational leadership. Now working across multiple brands as a fractional Head of Food, providing strategic food leadership, menu development and hands-on operational support.

Fractional Head of Food at Multiple Brands (2026-07 – Present)

Working across multiple brands, providing strategic food leadership, menu development and hands-on operational support.

Head of Food at The Fulham Shore (2024 – 2026)

Led food strategy and operational food systems across Franco Manca and The Real Greek, supporting a national estate of 100+ restaurants.

Culinary Director at Spook Hospitality (2023 – 2024)

Led culinary operations for premium hospitality and event activations working with global luxury and cultural brands including Netflix, Meta, Chanel, Prada and Burberry.

• Restructured and rebuilt the culinary leadership team
• Introduced operational systems including Monday.com, SOP frameworks, and Logit food safety systems
• Delivered labour modelling and operational efficiencies through Rotaready
• Rationalised supplier base to improve sustainability and commercial performance
• Supported ISO 20121 and ISO 14001 accreditation programmes

Executive Development Chef at Sessions (2022 – 2023)

Led culinary scale-up strategy for founder-led restaurant brands across delivery kitchens, food halls, and multi-brand operational formats.

• Launched 16 collaborative/scaled brands in 12 months
• Developed scalable menu systems and delivery-optimised food architecture
• Built supplier, manufacturing, and operational infrastructure to support rapid expansion
• Developed end-to-end SOPs, training systems, and activation frameworks

Head of NPD at Smashburger UK (2019 – 2022)

Led food innovation, menu development, operational execution, and commercial food strategy for the UK business.

Head of Food Innovation / Group Executive Chef at Revolution Bars Group (2013 – 2019)

Directed food strategy, menu innovation, and operational development across a large-scale national hospitality estate.

Founder at FoodRush Consulting (2019 – Present)

Providing strategic food consultancy to restaurant groups, founders, hospitality operators, and emerging brands across menu development, commercial food strategy, operational systems, delivery optimisation, supplier strategy, and brand scale-up support.

BA in Business Management – University of Northampton