Dr. Kathy Gosser, Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence at the University of Louisville
122 episodes
4 hours ago
FranchiseU! is your inside track to the franchise world—whether you’re a franchisee, franchisor, investor, entrepreneur, corporate exec, or just franchise-curious. Hosted by Dr. Kathy Gosser, a leading voice in franchise education, the podcast features insightful interviews with industry pros and rising stars, from franchise owners to C-suite leaders, support specialists, scholars, and students.
Each episode dives into real stories, lessons learned, and strategies that shape the franchise industry. Dr. Gosser brings her expertise and energy to every conversation, unpacking key takeaways and offering personal insights that connect the dots between theory and practice. It’s part conversation, part classroom, and all about helping you understand and thrive in franchising.
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FranchiseU! is your inside track to the franchise world—whether you’re a franchisee, franchisor, investor, entrepreneur, corporate exec, or just franchise-curious. Hosted by Dr. Kathy Gosser, a leading voice in franchise education, the podcast features insightful interviews with industry pros and rising stars, from franchise owners to C-suite leaders, support specialists, scholars, and students.
Each episode dives into real stories, lessons learned, and strategies that shape the franchise industry. Dr. Gosser brings her expertise and energy to every conversation, unpacking key takeaways and offering personal insights that connect the dots between theory and practice. It’s part conversation, part classroom, and all about helping you understand and thrive in franchising.
Garrett Reed and Eli Cohen: A Deep Dive Into a Fast-Growing QSR
FranchiseU!
16 seconds
2 weeks ago
Garrett Reed and Eli Cohen: A Deep Dive Into a Fast-Growing QSR
In this episode of FranchiseU!, Dr. Kathy Gosser takes a deep dive into the rise of Layne’s Chicken Fingers, (https://www.layneschickenfingers.com/) one of the fastest-growing brands in the QSR space. Kathy sits down with Garrett Reed (https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrett-reed-5a724a152/), CEO of Layne’s, and Eli Cohen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/elimcohen/), a rapidly expanding multi-unit franchisee, to explore their journeys, their philosophies, and the culture that makes Layne’s Chicken Fingers stand out. Garrett shares how his roots in College Station and his extensive career in commercial real estate development with Starbucks, Corner Bakery, Dunkin’ Donuts, Radio Shack, and Zale’s prepared him to steward Layne’s into its next era. After co-founding Main & Main Capital Group and developing more than 200 franchise units across 37 states, he purchased the iconic College Station chicken shack in 2016. Since then, he has elevated operations, opened multiple corporate locations across DFW, and set an ambitious goal: 100 Layne’s Chicken Fingers restaurants in the next five years. Garrett also explains the beloved Astro Chicken concept and how it embodies the brand’s values, quality, and guest experience. Eli brings a franchisee’s perspective to the conversation. As Founder and Operator of C5 Restaurants, he leads one of the country’s strongest Fazoli’s platforms and is actively developing Smalls Sliders and Layne’s Chicken Fingers across West Texas. With a background in real estate investment banking at Citigroup, private-sector development at the World Bank, and more than $600 million in real estate acquired through Cohen Rojas Capital Partners, Eli describes his transition into franchising and why Layne’s culture, support, and product made it the perfect fit. Together, Garrett and Eli unpack what makes a successful franchisee, the role culture plays in brand growth, and why Layne’s Chicken Fingers is poised to become a national favorite. Their enthusiasm for the food, the franchise partners, and the future is unmistakable. Topics Covered:· The Challenges and Learnings of Franchising· Layne's Unique Brand and Culture· The Complexity of Space Travel· Balancing Technical and Laid-Back Approaches· Franchising as a Growth Strategy· Qualities of a Successful Franchisee Click below to listen and subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you enjoy your favorite shows. Don’t miss out on all things FranchiseU!:Website: FranchiseU! (https://business.louisville.edu/learnmore/franchiseu/)Instagram:
FranchiseU!
FranchiseU! is your inside track to the franchise world—whether you’re a franchisee, franchisor, investor, entrepreneur, corporate exec, or just franchise-curious. Hosted by Dr. Kathy Gosser, a leading voice in franchise education, the podcast features insightful interviews with industry pros and rising stars, from franchise owners to C-suite leaders, support specialists, scholars, and students.
Each episode dives into real stories, lessons learned, and strategies that shape the franchise industry. Dr. Gosser brings her expertise and energy to every conversation, unpacking key takeaways and offering personal insights that connect the dots between theory and practice. It’s part conversation, part classroom, and all about helping you understand and thrive in franchising.
