North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 614)
On this edition of North Fulton Business Radio, Gerald Pulsinelli, CEO of Viva Chicken, joined host John Ray to discuss his company and their new Haynes Bridge Road location in Alpharetta. Gerald talked about their delicious menu offerings, including their Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken, how every menu item, even sauces, are made fresh on premises, why Alpharetta represents an attractive market for the company, how Viva Chicken takes care of its team members and gives back to the community through VivaCares, and much more.
North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
Viva Chicken is a fast-casual charcoal-fire Peruvian Rotisserie Joint specializing in the authentic Pollo a la Brasa (Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken) found on the streets of Peru. Serving the hottest, freshest chicken, Viva promises distinctive and flavorful menu items packed with inspired recipes that will transform your taste buds.
Convenience is key, whether guests dine in or take out. Order with the VIVA App for a seamless experience and earn Viva Points when signing up for our loyalty program.
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With nearly thirty years of experience, Gerald Pulsinelli plays an active leadership role in the hospitality industry. A strategic-driven senior executive with a proven history of success in restaurant operations, Gerald serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Viva Chicken, a fast-casual, authentic Peruvian Rotisserie Joint founded in 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Viva Chicken currently operates 12 restaurants across the country and is making its market entry into Georgia in late 2022.
Gerald’s role with Viva Chicken began in 2018. Since that time, he has dug into every aspect of the aspiring brand, partnering with the co-founders, current board of directors, and operations team, and working to fortify the homegrown company into a national brand.
Much of Gerald’s strong commitment to delivering superior hospitality was instilled in him when he served as a member of the Senior Executive Team at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, also based in Charlotte. He was with Firebirds from its inception in 2000, serving as General Manager of the restaurant’s first location, and in numerous senior-level positions over the next 18 years.
As a member of Firebirds’ Senior Leadership Team, Gerald was responsible for helping the team deliver the company’s version of iconic hospitality to all team members and every guest, while also helping define and execute the company’s purpose, mission, and values. As the Firebirds concept developed and grew from a single location to 50 by the end of 2018, Pulsinelli took pride in integrally shaping the growth and culture of the company nationwide.
As Firebirds’ Vice President of Development, he was responsible for leading and directing the development team in achieving the company’s high growth objectives. He oversaw the rollout of two new prototype restaurants, including evaluating the overall design and construction costs to ready the innovative prototypes for the expansion of the company.
Giving back to the community is part of Gerald’s DNA. In early 2020, Gerald pioneered a valued partnership between No Kid Hungry and Viva Chicken through the “Churros for Children” campaign. In addition, he is an active supporter of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), helping to find a cure for childhood cancer. Gerald is currently an ambassador for CORE (Children of Restaurant Employees) as well as a former member of the CHEERS Advisory Board.
- Why is Viva Chicken opening in Alpharetta?
- Philanthropy is a big part of Viva Chicken’s corporate culture – how do you as Viva’s CEO inspire your team to be as passionate as you are?
- When did you know you wanted to be in the restaurant and hospitality industry?
- How have you navigated your team through a pandemic and actually grown your business while others have not?
- What have the VivaCares initiatives been in the last 60 days?
- Any expansion plans in metro Atlanta?
North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.
Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.
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