Executive Q&A: Gary Brackett of Stacked Pickle

What about Stacked Pickle makes it unique within its industry?

The main differentiator of Stacked Pickle is its price point within the crowded sports restaurant franchise segment. The average investment for a Stacked Pickle is well below $1 million, which is incredibly low for a full-service restaurant.

Plus, since we aren’t solely focused on wings or burgers, our menu attracts a wide client base across several dayparts, including families and sports fans. Our food is fresh, never frozen. Every menu item is cooked to order, and our wings, tenders, and other fried items are all breaded by hand. That attention to detail in the sports restaurant environment is uncommon.

What have been some of the brand's milestones in its history?

One of the biggest moments since I took over ownership of Stacked Pickle was the opening of our ninth store in Plainfield. It’s our newest design and very modern and clean. I’m also looking forward to crossing over the 10-unit mark.

Another more recent milestone for the brand was when we brought our first franchisee into the system. We’ve signed two so far -- in Orlando and Houston. We have launched a strategic growth plan to expand Stacked Pickle further into Indiana, including Fort Wayne and Mishawaka, and will also focus on growth around our two new hubs in Orlando and Houston. We want to make sure we are building  brand awareness on a national level as new franchisees sign on to the brand.

What plans does the brand have in the coming years?

We have a goal of signing four more deals before the end of 2018, and 10 more deals in 2019. We hope to have 10 franchised locations open by the third quarter of 2019.

We are in the process of opening our 10th corporate store in Dayton, Ohio, which will be the first Stacked Pickle outside of Indiana.

What does an ideal franchisee look like?

We have identified two target audiences for franchise prospects: the first franchisee archetype is an Entrepreneur or “Coach In The Community,” and the second franchisee archetype is a transitioning athlete. An Entrepreneur or “Coach In The Community, is an individual who may have spent some time in a corporate environment, wants to be in business for him or herself, and is looking for an investment he or she can scale in their local market. A former pro-athlete himself, Gary is also focused on helping transitioning professional athletes who are looking for their next step after their retirement from sports.

Most professional athletes are looking for a viable career path to be able to build on the skills they learned while playing sports. Franchising is the perfect fit for professional athletes because it aligns so well with the idea of providing a playbook for team members to follow, the sense of camaraderie and the dedication required.

Why is Stacked Pickle a good investment?

Our investment level is under $1 million, which is uncommon in the full-service sports restaurant space. We also have a 3:1 investment ratio, meaning you can invest the same number as some of the other brands in the space, but our sales, as reported in our FDD, can be three times the amount of the investment, especially if going into an existing restaurant  space, cutting down on build out costs.

Plus, unlike other brands in the space, Stacked Pickle will sell a single unit, but offers incentives to sign a multi-unit agreement. Investment ranges from $425,550 to $939,850, with a franchise fee of $40,000, but is discounted for a three-pack ($90,000 total franchise fee), and a five-pack ($150,000 total franchise fee). The brand also offers a 10 percent discount on the franchise fee for veterans.