Role
Edna Morris is a Senior Advisor in the firm’s Grocery, Pharmacy & Restaurants Group. She joined Solomon Partners in 2017.
Experience
A veteran of the food and beverage industry, Ms. Morris has over 40 years of leadership experience that includes positions of influence with some of the most well-known restaurant groups and organizations in the United States. She has served as President of Red Lobster (then owned by Darden Restaurants), Blue Coral Seafood & Spirits (then owned by OSI Inc), Quincy’s Family Steakhouse and the James Beard Foundation. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Tractor Supply Company and has previously served on the Boards of Cosi, Inc., Einstein Noah and on the Board of Trustees for the Culinary Institute of America. She is also the founding Chair of Women’s Foodservice Forum.
Ms. Morris has been the recipient of several industry accolades, including the MUFSO Golden Chain Award, the Women’s Foodservice Forum’s Trailblazer Award, the Foodservice Council for Women’s Beacon Award, an Elliot Mentor Award and named an NRN Power Player. She is a frequent speaker at industry and Board related events.
In her current role as a Managing Director at private equity firm Axum Capital Partners, Ms. Morris leads the restaurant strategy practice and serves as an Industry Expert for the firm’s restaurant portfolio companies (Wild Wing Cafe, Back Yard Burgers). She is also the Chief Executive Officer, founder and a partner of CityRange, two chef-driven casual dining restaurants.
Education
Ms. Morris graduated Phil Beta Kappa from University of South Carolina with a BS in Psychology.
Transactions
Served as co-financial advisor to Red Lobster on its refinancing of existing credit facilities
January 2021
