Our People
Matt Matros, Owner and Creator of Protein Bar
Matt founded Protein Bar in 2009 with the goal of bringing healthy, great-tasting food to on-the-go customers. Growing up overweight and losing his father to a heart attack at a young age, Matt saw the connection that diet and stress have on one’s health. At age 22, Matt realized that he was on the same unhealthy path as his father and decided to make a change. With a commitment to doing the work to improve his life, Matt transformed through exercise and a protein-rich diet into a fit, healthy adult - losing 50 pounds along the way.
Struggling to find convenient places to eat in a manner that supported his new lifestyle, Matt left his career in brand management and spent his entire life savings to open the first Protein Bar at Franklin and Adams in downtown Chicago. Matt's commitment to giving customers the healthy, on-the-go choices they were looking for helped Protein Bar evolve and become what it is today. With a strong team, Matt's focus these days is on cultivating the Protein Bar brand which mostly means new market development and attracting the right kinds of partners as we work to change the quick service restaurant scene.
Matt is a Southern California native with undergraduate degree from USC and an MBA from the Ross School of Business at University of Michigan.
Mike Ganino, Operating Partner
Mike's focus is on building our core leadership team, nurturing a culture rooted in development and growth, and aligning our activities with our long-term vision.
Mike has been part of the PROTEIN BAR team since our first location in Chicago. Before PROTEIN BAR, Mike served as Director of Operations at HomeMade Pizza Company and in training leadership roles at Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises and Potbelly Sandwich Shop.
As a person living with Type 1 Diabetes since the age of 9, Mike has had a health-oriented relationship with food. Understanding that the food he consumed really had an impact on his overall health, Mike has been a strong advocate of learning all you can about how your food fuels you so that you can make the best choices for a healthy life.
Phil Fox, Chef
Phil Fox leads our culinary team in coaxing out the most flavor with our nutritionally relevant ingredients. With a background in developing products for Fortune 500 companies, Phil brings extensive background in product development, menu creation, and R&D.
After receiving a culinary degree from Le Cordon Bleu, Phil finished a bachelor's degree at Dominican University in Food and Nutrition. Since then he was worked in restaurants, research kitchens, and the hallways of some of the most respected food brands.
Constantly curious about healthy eating, maximum flavor, and introducing new ingredients to a wider audience, Phil is the perfect for PROTEIN BAR as we bring exciting new developments in healthy eating to the masses.
