Fully Occupied

Robert Kluger [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-kluger-8a49764/], Chief Development Officer at Kura Sushi [https://kurasushi.com/], joins Matt to share the story behind Kura Sushi, a revolving sushi bar restaurant originating from Japan. He discusses how Kura Sushi leverages technology, such as revolving sushi belts and drink robots, to enhance labor efficiency and create unforgettable customer experiences. Robert, who has held leadership roles at industry giants like Panda Express, Panera Bread, and Blaze Pizza, also shares his personal expertise in scaling restaurant brands and selecting prime real estate in today’s competitive market. About Robert Kluger Mr. Kluger has served as Chief Development Officer of Kura Sushi USA since May 2020. Most recently, Mr. Kluger served for four years as Senior Vice President of Development and Vice President of Real Estate for Blaze Pizza, LLC, a fast casual artisan pizza brand with approximately 340 units worldwide. Blaze Pizza added over 200 franchise-operated restaurants during Mr. Kluger’s tenure. Prior to Blaze Pizza, he spend 6 years at Panera Bread, the largest bakery-café concept in the U.S. also with a presence in Canada, as their Senior Development Manager. During his first 3 years at Panera Bread, Mr. Kluger rapidly grew Panera Bread’s footprint in Southern California opening both company and franchise operated bakery-cafés, then in his last 3 years was charged with leading franchise development nationwide. During Mr. Kluger’s tenure, Panera Bread opened approximately 800 bakery-cafes. Previously, he spent 12 years at Panda Restaurant Group and held various roles including Vice President of Real Estate. Panda Restaurant Group, parent to Panda Express, Panda Inn and Hibachi San is the largest quick service Chinese restaurant chain in the U.S. and internationally. Mr. Kluger was charged with growing Panda Express in traditional and non-traditional venues across the United States. Panda Express opened approximately 1,300 restaurants during Mr. Kluger’s tenure. Mr. Kluger started his career in field operations and a corporate capital planner and financial analyst at The Vons Companies Inc., at the time the largest grocery chain in Southern California with over 300 units and $5 billion in total sales. About Kura Sushi Since the opening of its first restaurant in 1977, our parent company, Kura Corporation and Kura Sushi USA have grown to over 600 locations across Japan, Taiwan, and the United States. As pioneers of the “revolving sushi” concept, the Kura family of companies have improved upon the idea and developed innovative systems that combine advanced technology, premium ingredients, and affordable prices to create a unique revolving sushi dining experience.We pay particular attention to the taste, sourcing, and preparation of all of our dishes. Nothing is more important to sushi than the rice and the vinegar. We evaluated over 100 varieties of rice before selecting the perfect one to mix with our secret vinegar recipe. Also, our philosophy of “muten” or “nothing added” is an ongoing promise that our food is prepared using natural ingredients with no additives or artificial preservatives.

Akash Kapoor [https://www.linkedin.com/in/akashkapoor/], Founder and CEO of Curry Up Now [https://www.curryupnow.com/] and Mortar & Pestle Bar, shares his journey from turning a single food truck into a rapidly expanding global franchise. Akash discusses the challenges of scaling, lessons learned in franchising, and his vision for the future of fast-casual dining. Tune in for insights into the evolution of a brand blending bold flavors with innovative growth strategies! About Curry Up Now California is home to the largest population of Indians outside of India and our style of cooking is ~9,000 miles and ~125 years in the making. Traditional rituals with flavor-forward flair. Firmly familiar to some and fantastically fun for all. Indian at heart while Californian in spirit. This is your Auntie’s tikka wrapped in your Tía’s burrito...Bombay tandoori riding with Bay Area burgers...New Delhi naan if pizza-fied by SoCal surfers. You’ve had thalis and kathis and biryanis in the past. But this is Curry Up Now: the hyphenated hero of the Indo-Californian kitchen, remixing street food from the Land of Spices with culinary classics from the Land of Dreams.

Kendall Whitaker [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendall-whitaker/] from Zucker Investment Group (ZIG) [https://www.zuckerinvestmentgroup.com/ ] dives into the vital role of real estate development and growth equity in the QSR space. Kendall explores the significance of location selection, the rise of modular build-out concepts, and effective capital structures for syndicating deals with investors. He shares ZIG’s approach to partnering with QSR operators, offering strategic support that allows franchisees to focus on growth while ZIG handles real estate complexities. From regional real estate trends to maximizing EBITDA in exit strategies, Kendall provides a roadmap for QSR success built on scalable, data-driven development solutions. ABOUT KENDALL WHITAKER: Kendall heads up ZIG's Quick Service Restaurant Platform. By leveraging his deep understanding of franchise capital stacks, real estate site selection, and expertise in the restaurant M&A process, Kendall enables his partners to achieve exceptional growth. Prior to joining the ZIG team, Kendall was a Top 5 Rookie Agent Nationally for a publicly traded Insurance Agency before entering into the retail tenant representation world in 2022 and joining ZIG in May of 2023. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama. ABOUT ZUCKER INVESTMENT GROUP (ZIG): Zucker Investment Group (ZIG) is a strategic capital firm operating at the nexus of real estate development and growth equity. Leveraging its expertise in site selection, creative financing, and strategic exits, ZIG empowers its partners to drive exceptional growth and achieve superior exit outcomes. In addition to serving as a real estate and capital partner to various franchisees, ZIG is also a franchisee of AFC Urgent Care and Smalls Sliders.

Mike LaRue [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelklarue/] is the VP of Franchise Development at Angry Chickz [https://www.angrychickzfranchise.com/] and a seasoned expert in the franchise space, particularly in the emerging brands sector. He joins Matt to share how emerging brands can strategically scale in a competitive market, the importance of storytelling in building a brand, and the 3 key considerations for successful brand development.

Dan Rowe is the Founder and CEO of Fransmart, one of the largest restaurant franchise development firms in the world. Fransmart specializes in finding the next big thing at the earliest stages and has sold over 5,000 franchises worldwide. He joins Matt to share his extensive experience in the franchise world, discussing the strategies for identifying and developing successful restaurant brands. Dan emphasizes the importance of authentic brand DNA, strong unit economics, and the right franchisee selection. Tune in for valuable advice for first-time franchisees!