Brandon Wilhelm wished to see Hangry Joe’s for himself before anyone knew he was there. So the Subway veteran, who spent practically 20 years developing franchise territory across the Midwest, arrived in Virginia a day before assembly the scorching chicken franchise’s management and quietly tried several of its eating places, according to QSR. He says it was “the best chicken sandwich I ever had.”
He went on to become a multi-unit franchisee, equity investor and board member. He also served as the chain’s performing chief advertising officer. On Oct. 6, he took over as CEO.
Founded in 2021, Hangry Joe’s now has more than 90 eating places in over 20 states and several worldwide markets, including the United Arab Emirates, with more in the pipeline. But Wilhelm admits some opened in less-than-ideal places. He’s tightening website and franchisee requirements, cutting food prices and placing more royalty income into advertising.
“I don’t want to have 300 stores with several of them B-minus locations,” he says. He’d rather have 120 to 150 shops in A places. He also says promoting to personal equity has never been the aim.