Down and Dirty: Top 10 Hands-On QSR CEOs

Operating and running a successful food concept is no walk in the park (or trip down the sandwich assembly line). Choosing to take a genuine and wholesome approach to business has allowed these CEOs to achieve great success, but more importantly, they've seen employee satisfaction and received their customers’ seal of approval. [caption id="attachment_7148" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="J. Patrick Doyle"][/caption] Domino’s Pizza – CEO J. Patrick Doyle Domino’s has been around since 1960 and is still a household name. Doyle has been on the forefront of the brand’s successes and scandals. In 2009, the company took a big risk when it launched a marketing campaign that confessed the chain’s old pizza wasn’t up to par, which resulted in a major marketing and sales push the following year. Commercials aired featuring Doyle admitting the quality of pizza wasn’t up to Domino’s standards and apologizing to customers. The CEO also went on air and personally apologized for a YouTube prank that went viral of employees contaminating the food in-store. Papa John’s Pizza – Founder and CEO John Schnatter  [caption id="attachment_7149" align="alignright" width="150" caption="John Schnatter"][/caption] John “Papa” Schnatter can often be seen touting his Louisville-based pizza brand in television commercials, radio spots and social media sites. In order to commemorate company milestones, Schnatter donates free pizzas to customers in celebration. In September 2012, Papa John’s Pizza opened up their 4,000 restaurant in New Hyde Park, NY. In order to honor the event, the brand gave away 4,000 free pizzas throughout New York City. Firehouse Subs – CEO Don Fox Firehouse Subs  [caption id="attachment_7130" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Don Fox"][/caption] The steamed sub-sandwich franchise has more than 600 restaurants in 35 states, and was founded by former fire fighter brothers. The stores are equipped with fire equipment and themed menu items. CEO Don Fox is extremely hands-on with all aspects of the restaurant’s operation. One of Fox’s priorities is visiting the stores to get to know his employees, which helps him strategize the company’s direction while working together with franchisees and their employees to move the company forward. Fox is quoted in QSR saying that the relationships within his brand are the most important and “are non-negotiable in terms of executing it, no matter what else is happening in the system.” [caption id="attachment_7131" align="alignleft" width="120" caption="Pierre Panos"][/caption] Fresh to Order - CEO Pierre Panos Panos began Fresh to Order (f2o) in 2005 in order to provide customers fresh, local food to a table for less than 10 minutes and for less than $10. One of Panos’s objectives as CEO is to ensure his employees are empowered to provide the best service for customers. He samples the food, visits locations and speaks to line staff in order to make sure all operations run smoothly, internally and externally. Jack in the Box – CEO Linda Lang [caption id="attachment_7132" align="alignright" width="115" caption="Linda Lang"][/caption] Since 1985, Lang held various positions at Jack in the Box including marketing, operations and finance, working her way up the corporate ladder. Lang and Jack in the Box are both proud supporters of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program. Lang’s work with the Jack in the Box Foundation helps make a different in communities where employees and franchisees live and work. [caption id="attachment_7134" align="alignleft" width="95" caption="Ron Shaich"][/caption] Panera Bread – CEO Ron Shaich Panera Bread introduced a revolutionary concept called the Panera Cares Community Cafes. These non-profit locations allowed customers to “pay-what-you-can” from a full menu, promoting an affordable and high quality experience to all those interested in the food. CEO Shaich’s main goal with his large consumer and cultural experiment was to address food insecurity and change the way people think about the food we as a nation consume. Yum! Brands – CEO David Novak [caption id="attachment_7135" align="alignright" width="150" caption="David Novak"][/caption] Novak is in charge of several successful QSR concepts including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC. Novak’s success comes from his hands-on leadership and his focus on creating an environment for his brands where his employees and franchisees can make a different. Novak stresses that great results get properly celebrated and recognized. [caption id="attachment_7136" align="alignleft" width="114" caption="Preston Atkinson"][/caption] Whataburger – CEO Preston Atkinson Atkinson says his success comes slowly from his transparency and his strides to make Whataburger a great company for people to work for long periods of time. His employee-centric and hands-on tactics prove to be working, as Glassdoor rated Whataburger one of the top 25 companies for successful opportunities. Wendy’s – Dave Thomas (Honorable Mention) [caption id="attachment_7137" align="alignright" width="115" caption="David Thomas"][/caption] Despite his death in 2000, Dave Thomas has been an icon in the QSR industry. His face appeared on commercials where his main goal was to connect to customers on a personal level. Thomas even named the restaurant after his fourth child, Melinda Lou “Wendy” Thomas. Thomas’s on-air persona was soft-spoken and he had a generous and whole-hearted effect on people. The brand had a difficult time replacing the ads after his death.