Tin Drum Asian Kitchen Announces New Leadership Team
Altaf and Amisha Popatiya and Matt Schinelli Join Executive Team
ATLANTA (July. 2019) – Atlanta-based Tin Drum Asian Kitchen has a new leadership team to lead the growing fast causal Pan-Asian restaurant. CEO Steven Chan has named Altaf Popatiya as COO; Amisha Popatiya as Director of Marketing; and Matt Schinelli as Director of Business Development.
Altaf Popatiya is responsible for leading the overall operations for all Tin Drum restaurants while Amisha Popatiya is leading the brand marketing strategy for current restaurants and new restaurant openings. In addition to their new executive roles, the Popatiyas are investors in the brand and part owners. They also own three Tin Drum restaurants in the Atlanta area, including the Decatur, Ga, location, the newest Tin Drum restaurant in the Atlanta area as well as Newnan and Sandy Springs, GA.
“Tin Drum is expanding beyond Atlanta and we need the expertise and passion for the brand that Altaf, Amisha and Matt bring to the table,” said CEO Steven Chan. “We have an aggressive plan to grow Tin Drum and we are excited for the future.”
As Director of Business Development, Matt Schinelli will lead much of the restaurant’s strategic growth into new markets. He is overseeing restaurant development, site selection and financing for new restaurants and their franchisees. Schinelli has worked with Tin Drum for years and was the first franchisee when he opened the Dunwoody, Ga., restaurant. He then went on to open two additional Atlanta-area restaurants and became a shareholder in the company in 2012.
The restaurant’s franchise growth is backed by the private equity firm BIP Capital, majority owner of Tropical Smoothie, who has invested more than $250 million in emerging, high-growth brands across the franchising, software, technology and consumer products industries. BIP Capital leverages its leadership team’s deep franchise experience to help emerging brands accelerate growth.
Known for its Pan-Asian menu that transports guests to a street side café in Asia, complete with hawker style cuisine and atmosphere, Tin Drum delivers a mash-up of bold flavors of Asia’s greatest hits as well as new “Not In A Bowl” items inspired by the cultures of China, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Japan, Korea, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Some menu favorites include the Tikka Masala, Singapore Curry Noodles, Thai Curry with Coconut Milk, Korean Fried Chicken Sliders, Saigon Summer Salad, and the addictive Crab and Cheese Spring Rolls. Each meal is prepared to-order using fresh, simple and specialty Asian ingredients served in an environment that evokes the hustle and bustle of a classic Hong Kong-style dai pai dong, or curbside café.
