Anand’s life in the restaurant industry started at a very young age when his mother became one of the first franchisees for Jack-in-the-Box. Although he tried to escape the family business with a degree in biology from USC, the lure of the restaurant industry drew him back in.
Today, Anand is managing partner of Gala Capital Partners, an investment and holding company whose portfolio includes CiCi’s Pizza, Famous Dave’s Barbeque, Rusty Taco and MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes.
In this episode of Forktales, Michael and Anand discuss the process for choosing a successful franchise, what you can learn from conversations with franchisees, the five core restaurant categories to invest in and which menu items Anand prefers at some of the restaurants in his current portfolio.
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Forktales is a podcast and video series that feeds the food, beverage, restaurant, and hospitality industries with insights, innovations, and incredibly entertaining stories. Each episode we interview the industry's leaders from veterans to the up and comers, to get a glimpse of trends, trials, tribulations, and more.
Anand Gala – Managing Partner of Gala Capital Group
Anand’s life in the restaurant industry started at a very young age when his mother became one of the first franchisees for Jack-in-the-Box. Although he tried to escape the family business with a degree in biology from USC, the lure of the restaurant industry drew him back in.
Today, Anand is managing partner of Gala Capital Partners, an investment and holding company whose portfolio includes CiCi’s Pizza, Famous Dave’s Barbeque, Rusty Taco and MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes.
In this episode of Forktales, Michael and Anand discuss the process for choosing a successful franchise, what you can learn from conversations with franchisees, the five core restaurant categories to invest in and which menu items Anand prefers at some of the restaurants in his current portfolio.
Andy Gellert – President of Gellert Global Group
Gellert Global Group imports more than 5,500 unique food items from more than 60 countries and is one of the largest food importers in the world. Andy Gellert sits at the helm of that family owned and operated business where he leads the company’s vision of being a part of every food experience.
In this episode of Forktales, Michael and Andy talk about how to avoid conflict in a family-owned business, the benefits of networks like the Young Presidents’ Organizations (YPO), the impact of inflation on the import business and the role of trends in identifying new imports.
Ep 88: Shannon O’Shields / VP of Marketing for Rubix Foods and Gen Z whisperer
Rubix Foods has its finger on the pulse of the hottest flavor trends and brings those trends to life for roughly 70% of the top QSR and FSR restaurant brands in the nation. Shannon O’Shields is the VP of marketing for Rubix and offers a sneak peek at how the company helps restaurants stay one bite ahead of the competition.
Among the topics Michael and Shannon dig into in this episode: Why it’s important to act quickly when responding to a trend, how social media helps Rubix identify trends, the impact of Gen Z on today’s menus, and Shannon’s quick take on a variety of up-and-coming flavor trends.
Ep 87: Doug Renfro / President of Renfro Foods and Salsa Creator Extraordinaire
This episode of Forktales is a spicy one thanks to Doug Renfro of Renfro Foods. Doug and his cousins oversee Mrs. Renfro’s salsas, a brand that has grown into one of the largest salsa names in the nation and the brand with the most unique selection of flavors.
On the menu, Michael and Doug talk about the benefits (and struggles) of family ownership, trend spotting, flavor development and eating ghost peppers for breakfast.
Ep 86: Burney Jennings / Executive Chairman of Biscuitville
More than 60 years ago Burney Jennings’ father, Maurice, had a choice: He could have the family farm or his mother’s closely-guarded biscuit recipe. Maurice chose the biscuit recipe and grew that family secret into Biscuitville, a 70-location restaurant that has become one of the most popular fast food franchises in the south.
On the menu in this episode of Forktales, Burney tells the story of that legendary inheritance, talks about the importance of family ownership, how closing every day at 2 p.m. separates Biscuitville from its competition and the one-word key to a good biscuit.
Ep 85: Ben Jacobs / Chef, founder of Tocabe and Native local pioneer
Ben Jacobs is a chef and a tribal member of the Osage Nation. He’s also a leader in bringing Native American food to the forefront of the American culinary conversation. In 2008, he founded Tocabe, one of the only restaurants in Denver specializing in Native and Indigenous cuisine and one of only a handful in the United States.
In this episode of Forktales, Michael and Ben talk about the best way to prepare elk, Tocabe’s appearance on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives (and how Guy Fieri saved Ben’s restaurant), Ben’s Seed to Soul mission and why it’s so hard to define Native American food.
