As CEO of The Melt, Ralph Bower leads the helm following an incredibly successful and prolific career developing and advancing national fast-casual brands. Bower is a proven brand builder who has guided the development of some of the country’s most iconic restaurant brands. With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Bower is a respected and trusted leader with the vision and knowledge to build on a restaurant’s foundation and future success.
Prior to The Melt, Bower served as CEO of Pei Wei for two years and was president of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc.’s U.S. division. His experience also includes work at Yum! Brands Inc., KFC and Domino’s Pizza.
A native of New Orleans, Bower dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot and attended the U.S. Naval Academy to pursue those dreams. Upon graduation he served as an officer on board a Navy Destroyer, the USS Dahlgren and later as an Admiral’s Aide in the Pentagon. With a new wife and son, Bower knew it would be difficult to return, so he decided to pursue a career closer to home. He took a job with Domino’s management program, grew passionate about the retail food industry, and the rest is history.
