The Value of Convenience (Podcast)

The pandemic pivot is a main topic of conversation in this episode of The Main Course as host Barbara Castiglia of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine speaks with Carl Howard, President and CEO of Fazoli’s. 

When COVID hit, Howard said they paused for a few weeks focusing on liquidity drivers, then went on the offense. “We wanted to solve the problem for Americans. They needed convenience and value, so we introduced the Super Family Meal. It’s a bucket of pasta, breadsticks, a pizza, and a gallon drink,” he explained.

That lead to new visitors and a surge, so they placed employees outside with tablets to make drive-thru lines move quicker. The brand experienced double-digit growth for the last eight months, and new franchisees are lining up. “We have a lot of interest because we’re not collecting franchisee fees or royalties for the first year, and we’re focused on converting properties, not building new ones.”

A new episode of The Main Course, our podcast series with MarketScale, is served up every Tuesday and Thursday.