SmartTakes
Podcasts

Jenifer Harmon talks with Malinda Grimes Reddie about working together as the AOR for Zaxby's for 16 years. And about Malinda's work to help create new relevance for legendary diner, Huddle House. Huddle House is refreshing the brand for today's consumer. St. John produced breakthrough creative and strong media plans that drove Zaxby's from 110 locations to over 900 and increased SSCS for 15 years, culminating in a $2B sale to Goldman Sachs.

Whether a legacy brand or a startup, there is nothing better for restaurant growth than franchising. It must be done with all stakeholders in mind. Franchisees must walk together with the franchisor. This episode discusses the benefits of a strong franchise model and the critical franchisee relationship balance for long-term brand value.

Don Fox, former chairman and CEO, talks with Jenifer Harmon about the calculated growth he led for Firehouse Subs, culminating in 1,200+ locations and a $1B sale to Restaurant Brands International (RBI).

Don Fox, former chairman and CEO, talks with Jenifer Harmon about the calculated growth he led for Firehouse Subs, culminating in 1,200+ locations and a $1B sale to Restaurant Brands International (RBI).

Historically, restaurant leaders lived or died on same store comp sales (SSCS) performance. But multiple price increases forced by the cost of goods increasing since COVID have made SSCS almost insignificant. Today, restaurants depend on growing traffic with new audiences, increased frequency and long-term loyalty. If a restaurant is not growing traffic, it is not increasing in value. Today, traffic is king.

St. John worked alongside Zaxby's founders to grow licensees, new locations, same store comp traffic/sales, and long-term brand value for over 15 years, from 110 locations to 900+, from AUVs of $1.5M to well over $3.5M, and ultimately a historic sale to Goldman Sachs for $2B. This is the story of St. John's incredible adventure working with Zaxby's marketing leadership, licensees, operations and communities to create fan fanatics, strong local roots, breakthrough innovation and a tremendous return on the investment value for all stakeholders.

Marketing leaders are swimming in data. Store By Store knows how to use data to tell the guest's story and drive new traffic and sales. We take restaurant transactions, guest proximity and menu preference, and append consumer profiles to help restaurants uncover hidden growth opportunities and maximize their media spend and messaging with these insights.