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A Global Hospitality Platform
OUR MISSION
We are guided by movement, not force. By flow, not friction. Like a river, we travel across borders with respect for the land we pass through absorbing local knowledge, honoring heritage, and leaving something stronger behind.
Rivermen exists to discover exceptional hospitality concepts and help them journey into new markets with integrity. We identify brands with soul those rooted in craft, culture, and story and give them the structure, systems, and stewardship required to scale without dilution.
OUR TEAM
Our team brings together decades of experience across culinary leadership, hospitality operations, brand building, and global expansion. Led by award-winning chefs, seasoned operators, and internationally recognized executives, we unite chef-driven vision with disciplined execution at scale. Together, we have launched, operated, and grown some of the world’s most influential food, beverage, and lifestyle platforms combining cultural fluency, operational rigor, and strategic insight to build enduring, high-performance hospitality brands.
Bradley Michael
Co-Founder
Bradley Michael is an accomplished restaurateur and entrepreneur with a proven track record of building and scaling globally recognized hospitality brands. His portfolio includes LongHorn Steakhouse, Black Steer Steakhouse, The Meat & Wine Co, 6HEAD, Hunter & Barrel, Italian Street Kitchen, and Ribs & Burgers, including the successful franchising of 156 Black Steer locations in just three and a half years. Known for building people-first cultures and commercially strong brands, Bradley delivers concepts that travel and endure at scale.
Jeffrey Kalt
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Jeffrey Kalt is a hospitality executive with over 25 years of experience as a chef, operator, and entrepreneur. He helped launch iconic chef-driven restaurants at Bellagio and Wynn Las Vegas and later co-founded Kitchen United, one of the first ghost kitchen platforms, which raised more than $150 million in venture capital. With a background spanning restaurant operations and food technology, Jeffrey specializes in building scalable, systems-driven hospitality businesses designed for growth.
David Sarner
Co-Founder & Chief Development Officer
David Sarner is a globally experienced hospitality and lifestyle executive with more than 25 years of leadership across the U.S., Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. He has built and scaled premium food, beverage, hotel, and entertainment brands, including serving as Group COO of CÉ LA VI for L Catterton Asia. Known for leading complex, multi-market expansions, David brings deep expertise in brand strategy, development, and high-performance growth.
Stephen Kalt
Co-Founder & Chief Culinary Officer
Stephen Kalt is an award-winning American chef with a career spanning New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Atlantic City. Trained under Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller, he has opened and led acclaimed restaurants and served as an operating partner for major hospitality groups and casino resorts. Known for a disciplined, ingredient-first approach, Stephen brings culinary authority and operational rigor to every concept he leads.
Steven Katoun
Chief Financial Officer
Steven Kastoun is a seasoned hospitality executive and Director at Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group, where he also leads Blue Coral Concepts. With nearly two decades at Seagrass, Steven brings deep expertise across finance, operations, and strategic growth, having previously served as Chief Financial Officer. Based in the Greater Sydney area, he is known for his disciplined financial stewardship, brand-driven thinking, and hands-on leadership style that supports the group’s portfolio of premium dining and lifestyle venues across Australia
Chris Conner
Franchising Platform Partner
Chris Conner is a franchise development expert with more than two decades of experience helping brands scale through structured franchising. As founder of Franchise Marketing Systems, he has led the development of over 400 franchise brands globally, overseeing franchise strategy, legal frameworks, operations, and sales execution. Chris brings deep expertise in transforming proven concepts into scalable, franchise-ready businesses with long-term viability.
Jody Pennette
Food & Beverage Development, Hotels & Resorts Partner
Jody Pennette is the Founder and CEO of cb5 Hospitality Group and a recognized expert in hotel and resort food-and-beverage development. His experience spans concept creation, design and construction management, operations, financial analysis, and brand repositioning across luxury hotels, casinos, resorts, and cruise lines worldwide. Jody is known for delivering commercially successful, design-forward F&B programs that elevate guest experience and asset performance.
Erik van Wijk
Celebrity and Michelin Chef Partner
Eric van Wijk, a Dutch entrepreneur with 35 years of experience in the hospitality industry, recently relocated to Cape Town and rebranded his business as Lion Hospitality Group. Renowned for his expertise in strategic F&B planning, business solutions, concept development, and operational management, Eric facilitates connections with celebrity chefs, organises events and curates pop-up experiences. Lion Hospitality Group specialises in hospitality recruitment, including executive search, F&B consultancy, culinary recruitment, restaurant, hostesses and bar staff recruitment, as well as organizing recruitment trips.
Damien Brassel
Culinary Director
Damien Brassel is an accomplished Irish chef with over 25 years of experience across Michelin-starred restaurants and major international hospitality groups. Formerly Director of Culinary (International) for Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, he played a key role in global expansion and the development of scalable concepts including Street Pizza and Bar & Grill. With senior leadership roles at Urban Purveyor Group in Australia, SBE Hospitality in New York, and Rockpool Dining Group in Sydney, Damien brings deep expertise in culinary innovation, classical technique, and high-performance execution. Known for his mastery of butchery and product-driven cooking, he combines tradition, discipline, and modern scale—reinforced by appearances on Iron Chef America and Chopped.
Edward Busse
Chief Technology Officer
Edward Busse is a seasoned technology executive with over 25 years of experience in product integration, systems architecture, and emerging technologies. His work spans hospitality, payments, healthcare, and experiential platforms, with prior leadership roles at PopID and Circle Integrated Technologies. Edward specializes in translating advanced technologies—such as data systems, POS, payments, and automation—into scalable, revenue-enhancing solutions, bridging technical innovation with real-world operations.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Discovering, curating, and scaling exceptional food, beverage, and lifestyle concepts across continents. Rivermen Hospitality is a global operator built on integrity, innovation, and operational excellence.
Cross‑Border Culinary Innovation
Rivermen exists to elevate and transport the world’s most compelling restaurant and hospitality concepts across the United States, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, South Africa, and Asia. We believe the best brands are rooted in place, story, and craft yet capable of traveling with care.
Operational Excellence Across Continents
We are operators, not just developers. Every Rivermen venue is delivered with flawless execution, high‑touch service, best‑in‑class operating systems, and rigorous training frameworks ensuring consistency without compromising character.
Authentic Relationships & Cultural Alignment
We respect the heritage of every concept we steward. By working closely with founders and local partners, we build trust‑based relationships that honor regional customs, tastes, and design languages while leveraging global expertise.
WHAT WE DO
We identify brands with soul and scalable potential, then bring them to new markets with cultural sensitivity, disciplined systems, and world‑class execution.
Scalable Brand Partnerships
We partner with extraordinary founders to take their concepts global. Rivermen provides capital planning, franchising infrastructure, operational oversight, and long‑term stewardship building enduring hospitality brands rather than short‑term rollouts.
Experience‑Driven Hospitality
From intimate cafés to large‑scale lifestyle destinations, we design venues around memorable guest journeys spaces that feel alive, generous, and culturally grounded, where cuisine, design, and storytelling work in harmony.
A Platform for Global Growth
Rivermen is a hospitality engine designed for international expansion. With strong governance, structured development models, franchising and licensing capabilities, and cross‑country rollout teams, we help brands scale into new cities, countries, and continents with confidence.
DIVISIONS
Dining
Premium and upscale dining concepts, chef‑driven cuisine, contemporary fine dining, tasting‑menu venues, and modern upscale casual brands with strong bar programs and multi‑unit potential.
Casual & Scalable Restaurants
Fast casual and premium fast casual concepts designed for high frequency, high margin performance ideal for franchising and international portability.
International Expansion
Cross‑border brand sourcing, JV and master franchise structuring, regional rollout management, and IP protection guiding brands through complex global growth.
Lounge & Social Experiences
Cocktail bars, rooftop lounges, listening rooms, speakeasies, and members clubs that blend design, music, and community.
Nightlife
Boutique clubs, after‑dark dining, dine‑tainment concepts, and immersive evening experiences.
Entertainment & Immersive Experiences
Live entertainment venues, experiential dining, theatrical gastronomy, cultural installations, and culinary festivals.
Hotel & Resort Partnerships
Signature hotel restaurants, rooftop and pool bars, white‑label management, and brand licensing for hospitality operators.
Consulting & Management Services
Market entry strategy, localization, operations management, franchise development, real estate advisory, and pre‑opening delivery.
Retail & Brand Extensions
Packaged products, co‑branded consumer goods, digital storefronts, and global D2C expansion.
Digital & Virtual Hospitality
Ghost kitchens, digital membership platforms, tech‑enabled guest experiences, and data‑driven operating systems.
Wellness & Lifestyle
Wellness cafés, functional nutrition concepts, fitness‑integrated hospitality, and spa‑aligned dining experiences.
Daylife & Resort Lifestyle
Beach clubs, rooftop day venues, pool clubs, and integrated resort dining concepts that transition seamlessly from day to night.
SERVICES
Brand Development & Positioning
Concept refinement, menu engineering, cultural localization, and brand guidelines.
Market Entry & Feasibility
Market research, feasibility studies, financial modeling, and site strategy.
Franchise Development & Expansion
Full franchise program design, legal frameworks, territory mapping, and franchisee onboarding.
Operational Management
SOPs, training, compliance, productivity optimization, and KPI reporting.
Talent & Culture
Leadership recruitment, training programs, service standards, and cultural integration.
Marketing & Community Launch
PR strategy, content, influencer partnerships, loyalty programs, and local activations.
Growth Strategy
Multi‑unit rollout planning, capital strategy support, M&A, and portfolio acceleration.
OUR NETWORK
Rivermen is both a network and an aggregator connecting brands to credible operators worldwide. Through joint ventures, partnerships, consulting, and investment into IP, we distill strong concepts and disseminate them responsibly into global markets.
WORK WITH US
Whether you are a founder seeking international growth, an investor looking for scalable hospitality platforms, or a landlord or hotel group in search of world‑class F&B concepts, Rivermen Hospitality is your partner in building meaningful, enduring destinations.
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