The iconic hot dog franchise ushers in a new era of leadership, growth, and vision Wienerschnitzel. The nation’s largest hot dog franchise has always been a family business. With the announcement of J.R. Galardi as CEO, the iconic brand is staying that way.
J.R. Galardi is the second generation of Galardi’s to take the reins. J.R.’s father, John, founded Wienerschnitzel in 1961, and his mother, Cindy Galardi Culpepper, took over as CEO in 2014. Now, the baton has been rightfully passed from one generation to the next.
In Media
The story of the announcement was recently covered in a wonderful new feature by Franchise Times, written by Laura Michaels, which covers how J.R. Galardi went from working at a Wienerschnitzel location at the age of 13, to running the entire organization 20 years later, at 33.
“Galardi said he made a point to work in multiple departments including operations, business development and marketing, not only to gain experience, but also because he didn’t want anyone within the organization, franchisees included, thinking he would simply step into a senior role because he’s the founder’s son,” the article states.
“I understand, as a 33-year-old, I probably wouldn’t be CEO of Wienerschnitzel without nepotism,” he says. “But I didn’t want anything gift wrapped.”
The announcement comes during a tremendous period of growth for the Wienerschnitzel brand. Not only is the brand experiencing record breaking sales, but Wienerschnitzel is also entering new markets for store development. Already a mainstay on the West Coast, where the brand is a part of daily life for millions, Wienerschnitzel has recently inked large development deals in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, with more on the horizon.
Continuous Growth
2021 marked drive-thru-heavy Wienerschnitzel’s 11th consecutive year of same-store sales growth, and twice consecutive years of double-digit sales increases. The top 50% of all stores open for the entire calendar 2021 averaged $1,412,473, per the new FDD. There are good reasons why the brand is performing so well.
The strength of the Wienerschnitzel franchise opportunity in 2022 continues to get the attention of Entrepreneur magazine. The esteemed publication’s annual, “Franchise 500”, ranked Wienerschnitzel at #109, and “#1 in Category” (hot dogs) for the fourth consecutive year.
There’s no question that J.R. Galardi has earned the reins at exactly the right time. His leadership ensures that the future of Wienerschnitzel and its franchise family is on-point.
We encourage you to read the entire article by Franchise Times.
Ready to learn more about a Wienerschnitzel franchise?
With open territory, new market incentives, and a new generation of nostalgia-driven consumers, Wienerschnitzel is a worthy investment for the entrepreneur who wants to bring the best tasting hot dog and soft-serve to their community. With industry-leading support, a proven business model, and eleven years of continual same-store sales increases, there is no better time to invest in a Wienerschnitzel/Tastee-Freez franchise.
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