Kitchen Guard opens in Northwest Arkansas

San Diego-based Kitchen Guard, a commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning service provider, recently expanded into Northwest Arkansas under the leadership of franchise owner Jason Kuilan.

The area Kitchen Guard is based in a Rogers warehouse and covers Northwest Arkansas and the Fort Smith, Joplin, Mo., and Springfield, Mo., metro areas. It has three full-time staff. As demand increases, six additional staff are planned to be hired over the next year. Kuilan’s startup costs were about $300,000, and the franchise fee was $49,000.

Kuilan graduated from Northwestern State University and earned a master’s degree in business analytics from Imperial College London. As a former Walmart supplier, his professional background includes experience in business management and operations. He was sales director at 1440 Foods, national account manager at MGA Entertainment and category manager at Henkel. He also was a product manager and account analyst at The NPD Group. Kuilan is a lifelong traveler and food enthusiast.

“I’ve always loved food and the restaurant industry,” Kuilan said. “When I discovered Kitchen Guard, I saw an opportunity to combine my passion with a service vital for the success and safety of restaurants. I’m excited to bring this level of excellence to Northwest Arkansas and help local restaurants be the best they can be.”

According to a news release, Kitchen Guard adheres to the highest standards set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and complies with all area, state and federal regulations.

Kitchen Guard, formerly Green Guard Services, was founded in 2009 and purchased by EverSmith Brands in 2023. In 2024, Kitchen Guard started with zero franchises and territories, and the multi-million dollar business has grown to 44 with 21 owner franchisees.