From investment banking to kitchen safety: How one Birmingham native is bringing kitchen safety to local venues and restaurants

After nearly a decade in investment banking, Owen Elliott, a Birmingham native, has embarked on a new venture aimed at providing essential fire safety services to local restaurants. He spent nine years helping franchisors sell their business or raise capital and became well-versed in the franchise industry.

But it wasn’t until early 2024 that he decided to explore the franchise landscape for himself, teaming up with a franchise consult to refine his criteria and identify a business that could benefit Birmingham.

Kitchen Guard, a company specializing in the cleaning and maintenance of commercial kitchen exhaust systems, emerged as the perfect fit.

Kitchen Guard is a business dedicated to the cleaning and maintenance of commercial kitchen exhaust systems. This essential service ensures that the ventilation hoods above stovetops, fryers, and grills – which expel greasy air – are regularly cleaned to prevent fire hazards. These systems are legally required to be cleaned on a regular schedule: every three months for most establishments, and monthly for wood- and charcoal-fueled kitchens.

Kitchen Guard’s service goes beyond basic cleaning. Their technicians manually scrape away grease, apply specialized cleaning chemicals, and use commercial-grade power washers to ensure the exhaust system, from the filters to the ducts and fans, is thoroughly cleaned. The company’s unique filter exchange program also makes it easy for restaurants to maintain compliance with safety standards. Every two weeks, Kitchen Guard replaces filters, cleaning the old ones in a specialized solution at their warehouse before exchanging them again in two weeks.

Setting the Standard in Commercial Kitchen Maintenance

Elliott has brought Kitchen Guard’s high standards and state-of-the-art equipment to the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa areas, where they’ve already spent five months building their clientele. Kitchen Guard’s approach focuses on reliable, professional-grade services that set them apart from local competitors, many of whom operate smaller family-run businesses that may lack the tools, training, or consistency Kitchen Guard provides.

“What differentiates us from our competitors is our belief that you get what you pay for,” he explains. Kitchen Guard’s team is highly trained in industry practices, equipped with the latest tools, and committed to maintaining open communication with clients. These factors, combined with top-tier customer service, make Kitchen Guard a trusted partner for restaurant owners who want peace of mind.

A Hassle-Free, Safety-First Subscription Service

Kitchen Guard’s services are exclusively for commercial clients, such as restaurants, schools, assisted living facilties, and sports venues, with a focus on two primary objectives:

Fire Safety: Grease buildup in kitchen ventilation systems is a serious fire hazard, and Kitchen Guard’s services significantly reduce this risk, helping to protect clients’ properties and ensure the safety of their patrons.

Convenience for Restaurant Owners: Kitchen Guard offers a “set it and forget it” subscription model. Clients sign two-year contracts that include regular service scheduling, taking the burden of exhaust maintenance off the restaurant owners’ shoulders. Through this service, Kitchen Guard keeps clients updated with easy-to-access information at their fingertips.

From the initial plastic sheeting and tarping process to specialized tools like magnetic scrapers and spinning pressure-washer water heads, Kitchen Guard ensures that every job is completed to a high standard. They even install service panels to ensure hard-to-reach areas within exhaust systems are cleaned and up to code, ensuring complete and thorough cleaning.

A New Chapter for Birmingham’s Fire Safety

The journey from investment banking to franchise ownership hasn’t been without challenges, but Elliott is passionate about building a company that supports local restaurants and promotes fire safety. Owned by private equity firm Riverside Co., Kitchen Guard has transformed from a corporate model into a franchise system, allowing local operators to bring these essential services to communities across the country.

In the Birmingham area, Kitchen Guard is on a mission to expand its footprint and establish a strong pipeline of clients that rely on their services for a cleaner, safer kitchen environment. With a focus on excellence, professionalism, and fire safety, Kitchen Guard is quickly becoming an essential part of Birmingham’s restaurant industry.

Baylor Frazier is a digital and radio sales specialist for YHN Media Group. For advertising opportunities through our portfolio of publications, you can contact him directly at [email protected].