Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Inc. announced that the Board of Directors (Board) has appointed Starlette B. Johnson to the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. Ms. Johnson is currently a member of the Board. Starlette B. Johnson, age 61, has served as a member of the Board since March 2022.

Ms. Johnson has served as a consultant to the hospitality and entertainment industries, through SBJ Advisory Group, LLC, working with both public and private companies since 2012. In October 2020, she joined the board of Tastemaker Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition company focusing on the restaurant, hospitality, and related tech and services sectors, and serves as Chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Johnson also has served on the board of Jack?s Family Restaurants since October of 2019 after the acquisition of the company by AEA Partners and currently serves on the Audit and Marketing Committees.

From March 2021 through May 2023, Ms. Johnson joined the board of ARKO Corp., the sixth largest convenience store chain in the United States in March 2021 and served as Chair of the Nominating/Governance Committee and as a member of the Audit and Compensation Committees. From September 2012 through February 2023, she served as a member of the Audit Committee, as Chair of the Nominating/Governance Committee and as Chair of the Compensation Committee for Chuy?s Inc. a full-service casual Mexican chain. Ms. Johnson served as Chair of the Board for privately-held SusieCakes, a classic desserts bakery based in Southern California from December 2014 through December 2020.

She also served as a member of the Board and Chair of the Audit Committee of Bojangles? Famous Chicken ?n Biscuits from March 2016 until the completion of its go-private transaction in January 2019. From January 2019 through October 2020, Ms. Johnson served as a board member and as Interim President of the Lucky Strike Entertainment Group after its acquisition by Wellspring Capital Management, reporting directly to its board of directors.

Ms. Johnson received an MBA from Duke University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Virginia Tech. On January 27, 2024, Robert Sarlls? employment as Chief Executive Officer of the Company was terminated without Cause (as such term is defined in Mr. Sarlls?

offer letter with the Company, dated May 3, 2022, the ?Sarlls Offer Letter?), effective immediately.