Hand-Crafted Franchise Fulfillment

2 Min Read By Barbara Castiglia

There are only two key ingredients in the recipe for sustainable franchise growth, according to Tony Gioia, CEO of Togo’s West Coast Original Sandwiches.

“Food and service is what creates the loyal customer base,” he told Modern Restaurant Management magazine. “You can make it very complicated, but it comes down to a simple value proposition. It’s always about the food. At Togo’s it’s big, fresh meaty sandwiches served with a smile.”

The chain, started in 1971 as a simple sandwich shack near San Jose State University, now has more than 325 restaurants along the West Coast including a recently opened location in Chatsworth, CA with more on the way.

“We have a nice development pipeline,” Gioia boasted.

Tony GioiaAt end of last year, Mainsail Partners, Togo's co-owner, agreed to sell its shares to Nimes Capital. Gioia retained his ownership stake and continues to lead the revitalization and expansion efforts. Mainsail and Gioia acquired the franchise in 2007 and he…