Andrew Alfano is the CEO of Retro Fitness, a leader in the high-value, low price fitness space with more than 140 gyms open or under development in 14 states. With over 25 years of experience in the retail, hospitality, and restaurant industries, Alfano joined Retro Fitness in May 2019 to mature and drive the growth of the brand across the US. He moved the company to its new headquarters in West Palm Beach, recruited a new executive team and restructured the company. With its new brand positioning, “Get Real”, Retro Fitness is coming off the best January campaign in the history of the company. With a new go to market strategy, he quickly repositioned the company to capitalize on area development opportunities in emerging markets.
Most recently, Alfano served as President and Chief Operating Officer of The Learning Experience, an Academy of Early Education, headquartered in Deerfield Beach, Florida, transitioning from the Company after successfully spearheading a financial event that exited the majority partner nearly two years early at a very impressive multiple.
Alfano joined The Learning Experience, in 2015 as Chief Operating Officer and was quickly promoted to President and COO. In this role, he leveraged the existing strengths of the brand, reorganized the company, and crafted a new go to market strategy that accelerated its growth and development. During that time, Alfano doubled new store openings, driving record revenue and EBITDA. Today, The Learning Experience can boast of domestic and international, as well as company and franchise units with over 400 locations open or under development, with European expansion now underway along with other adjacent line and product extensions.
Prior to The Learning Experience Alfano enjoyed an impressive 16-year career with Starbucks Coffee Company, having joined the brand in the late 90’s, he worked his way up from District Manager to Senior Vice President, U.S. Business. In this capacity he was accountable for over $3.5B in revenue across both licensed and company operated stores. As a member of the Executive Steering Committee, he helped develop and execute their Blue Print for Growth, 5-year strategic plan and led a field team of Regional Vice Presidents, all while working with the executive team and external agencies to weigh in on all things brand.
A high energy, driven leader, Alfano helped architect Starbucks’ rapid and strategic growth, in some of the higher profile, complex urban markets, specifically the flagship market of New York. During his time, these markets saw record growth in same stores sales and profits. In addition, Alfano was a key member of the leadership team that helped lead the US Business out of the company’s downturn in 2008.
He currently sits on the Board of Fellows for the Culinary Institute of America, as well as Think Coffee, and previously sat on the Board of Directors for Make-a-Wish South Florida and United Way, NYC Board of Fellows.
Alfano and his wife are natives of Long Island, where they and their three children still maintain a home. Currently he and his wife spend the majority of their time at their primary residence in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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