Succeeding with Founders
Big Chicken CEO, Josh Halpern
Don't miss the latest episode of The Turning Tables podcast, where innovative leaders share new rules for success in the competitive restaurant market. Host Kathleen Wood sits down with Big Chicken CEO, Josh Halpern, to discuss leadership, growth, and building great brands. Big Chicken, founded in 2018, is backed by JRS Hospitality, Authentic Brands Group, and basketball star Shaquille O'Neal. It blends O'Neal's childhood favorites with trendy flavors, from crispy chicken sandwiches to Cheez-It® crusted mac n' cheese, each telling a story about O'Neal's life and personality.
In this episode, from the Prosper Forum conference in Amelia Island, Florida, Josh shares the successes of recent openings, particularly in Rosemont, Illinois, and Baton Rouge - their first casino location. He emphasizes Big Chicken as a partner-first company, focusing on incredible food and service, good unit-level economics for franchisees, clear communication with suppliers, and continuously pushing culture, marketing, and capabilities boundaries. He underscores the importance of making the right decisions for franchisees, ensuring their success and continuous improvement. This approach, he believes, will drive Big Chicken's growth and positive energy. He also talks about collaborating with Stan's Donuts and using drone lights innovatively at the Baton Rouge opening.
Kathleen and Josh delve into various topics, including keeping franchisees engaged, avoiding apathy, and the challenges of scaling a business. Josh emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement, good communication, and creating a clear, transparent ecosystem for all stakeholders. He also discusses the importance of not just focusing on numbers but also staying true to the company's values and ensuring franchisees are in the best possible position. They also discuss Kathleen Wood's book, "Founderology," and the challenges faced by founders and CEOs when scaling a business while maintaining the founder's vision. Josh shares his experiences taking over Big Chicken when it had two units and the adjustments needed to scale the business while maintaining the founder's mentality.
The conversation highlights key challenges and considerations for scaling a founder-led business, such as maintaining quality and consistency, balancing vision and adaptability, clearly defining roles, understanding before making changes, and balancing bureaucracy and flexibility. It underscores the importance of communication, empathy, and a collaborative approach when scaling a founder-led business. It's crucial to respect the founder’s vision while also making necessary adjustments for growth. This involves clearly defining roles, understanding existing processes, and gradually implementing changes that enhance efficiency and effectiveness while staying true to the original vision of the business.
They discuss the importance of embracing the founder's genius, being flexible, and making necessary adjustments for scaling. The speakers highlight the need to understand the founder's vision and the essential elements that make the company unique while also implementing efficiencies and processes that enable growth. They acknowledge the importance of staying true to the "Founderology" principles in the face of rapid growth and express gratitude for the guidance provided by the book.
Overall, this episode of Turning Tables podcast offers valuable insights for restaurant operators and hospitality professionals looking to scale their businesses while maintaining quality and staying true to their original vision. Tune in for practical insights and best practices from industry leaders who are successfully navigating these challenges.