Former Applebee's CEO Tapped to Grow Mr. Goodcents(R) Subs and Pastas Franchise
July 14, 2010 // Franchising.com // KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Joe Bisogno, founder and chairman of Mr. Goodcents® Subs and Pastas, has announced that Dave Goebel is taking over the reins as the new president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Mr. Goodcents. Goebel is a Mr. Goodcents franchisee and former president and CEO of Applebee's International.
Goebel's plans for the brand are two-fold: first, to refresh and reinvigorate the brand and, second, to quickly accelerate unit growth by repositioning the brand as an attractive multi-unit franchise opportunity. Today, most franchisees own and operate only one or two units.
Even with plans already underway to update the brand, Goebel says he "won't fix what's not broken, and that's the core of the brand – fresh deli-sliced meat and bread baked fresh on-site twice a day." Instead, Goebel is focused on introducing new menu items, updating the restaurant design, improving customer service and enhancing technology.
"Mr. Goodcents Subs and Pastas is a great brand with lots of blue sky ahead," Goebel said. "While many segments of the restaurant industry are getting clobbered, our consumer research shows Mr. Goodcents continues to score high marks for quality, freshness and value. In this economy, it doesn't get any better than that." Goebel's 30-plus years of restaurant experience has prepared him well for his new role. During his seven years with Applebee's International, Goebel demonstrated a unique ability to go hands-on to understand the business, assess the organization's strengths and weaknesses, and then to set the strategy to quickly grow and develop the brand. Under Goebel's leadership, Applebee's grew to more than 2,000 units, with annual revenues exceeding $4 billion.
Prior to Applebee's, Goebel was president of Summit Management, Inc., a start-up company providing strategic planning and executive development to growth organizations.
Before Summit Management, Goebel's entrepreneurial instincts led him to build his own company, Finest Foodservice, LLC, an area developer/franchisee of Boston Market restaurants. In six years, Goebel opened 75 Boston Market restaurants across seven states.
"I've worn both hats – franchisee and franchisor," Goebel said. "But this – being both at the same time – is unique and ideal. I understand that the relationship between franchisee and franchisor is truly symbiotic – for one to grow and flourish, the other must grow and flourish. And my goal as president and CEO is to ensure both happen, quickly."
Bisogno will remain chairman of the board and focus on his passion – building the best technology platform in the business for Mr. Goodcents Subs and Pastas and its franchisees. In 1989, Bisogno opened the first Mr. Goodcents® Subs and Pastas in Lenexa, Kan. The company currently has 99 units in nine states and has been named a Top 500 franchise company for 11 years by Entrepreneur Magazine.
"Mr. Goodcents is perfectly positioned for nationwide expansion," Goebel said. "We have excellent franchisee opportunities in all 50 states for entrepreneurs who want to meet consumers' demands for healthy options and quality food at a great value."
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