Fastest Growing Brewpub Franchise on the Planet: Voodoo Brewing Co. Awards 23 Franchises in 2023

Beer remains a lucrative industry in the U.S. — worth $115 billion, to be exact — and continues to be something the average consumer will almost always buy. Voodoo Brewing Co. is leveraging that, taking the beer culture to business ownership, with eyes to have 30 pubs open by the end of the year.

Voodoo Brewing Co. has quickly become an internationally acclaimed craft brew brand and fastest growing brewery franchise in the industry. Since launching franchising in 2012, Voodoo Brewing Co. has experienced explosive growth, awarding almost 80 agreements, with 17 thriving locations open and 25 brewpubs projected to open by the end of 2023.

“We've been referred to as the anti-franchise franchise,” said Voodoo Franchise Group Chairman Brent Dowling. “There are so many people in the general public who think poorly of the franchise model. There seems to be a common expectation of a handcuffed relationship between the franchisor and the franchisee. We want to be more than that. We truly partner with the local franchise owners.”

Two Brothers with a Dream and $76: The Voodoo Brewing Co. Story

In 2012, Voodoo Brewing CO. CEO Matteo Rachocki had established himself in the New York restaurant space, and his brother, Curt, was brewing craft beer privately. The brothers had previously discussed owning a brewpub of their own, and when Curt saw their local Voodoo Brewing Co. on the brink of closure, he knew it was time for them to go all in. 

“We were from a very small, blue-collared community. We saw this incredible opportunity to save this local business, which was Voodoo, and took it over in 2012. Six months after we took over, we launched our first taproom, and from that point forward, we were launching taprooms for the next two years like rapid fire. We’ve been hyper-focused on every aspect of the Voodoo experience.”

The team worked tirelessly to build out Voodoo Brewing Co.’s initial facilities, and on the morning of the first taproom's opening, Matteo withdrew the last $76 from the business account to make change for the register, knowing that the concept would just have to work. And it did.

With a line wrapped around the block on opening day, the first taproom took off, and the team began to open additional locations. One after the other, each taproom was a screaming success, and the clear next step was to package the beer and distribute it to independent local restaurant and bar owners.

As the team took on this next phase of growth, it invested in a production facility that would allow it to easily scale production and distribution at the drop of a hat to support local owners, which remains a key differentiator for the franchise today.

“Working with my brother, we kept strong ties to our community. I knew if we could stick to our guns, and what we believe is inherently important, with consistency, quality, and a huge community focus, I knew we could build a solid brand, but we had no idea Voodoo would take off as quickly as it has,” Rachocki said.

Franchising Empowered Voodoo Brewing Co. to Rapidly Expand Its Iconic Name Across the U.S.

The singularity of the Voodoo concept lent itself to expansion, and the team executed their first few franchise agreements with little to no marketing. It was then that they decided to get in touch with a franchise supplier that could potentially accelerate the growth.

“That gave us a proof of concept, and we thought, 'Okay, we should really reach out and figure out a little bit more about this development side of franchising,’” explained Rachocki. “After doing some research, Raintree seemed like a great fit for us… The spark turned into a blaze. We felt very comfortable working with the team there.”

While the partnership initially began as a franchisor and franchise supplier relationship, the Raintree and Voodoo Brewing Co. teams connected at a suboptimal time for food service businesses. Shortly after the two companies began working together to drive franchise development, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the Voodoo Brewing Co. team became concerned that they might have to shutter franchise development efforts entirely.

Brent Dowling, CEO of Raintree and Chairman of Voodoo Franchise Group, saw too much potential in the brand to let that happen. Beer is an in-demand $115 billion industry in the U.S., and he was confident in the demand that would exist for a European-style beer hall once pandemic restrictions were lifted and the general public was seeking connection again. 

"I was once advised to bet on the jockey and not the horse,” said Dowling. “That's proven to be so true. We've worked with other concepts at Raintree that had some really strong, unique, powerful elements. If you look purely at the business model, you expect it to be so successful for franchisees. Over time, we’ve realized that's not always the case. The success of the brand is often more driven by the people driving it.”

In this case, the "jockey” made all the difference. The passion and strategy of the Voodoo Brewing Co. leadership team made the company so much more than just any old brewpub. So, despite all of the uncertainty of the pandemic and the challenges that were hitting food and beverage concepts especially hard at the time, Dowling chose to invest.

“I actually remember sitting down and having that conversation with my wife,” said Dowling. “Hey, I know that this is a crazy time and that we're supposed to be playing it safe, but here’s what I want to do: I want to go all in on this thing called Voodoo.’”

After Raintree went all in on Voodoo Brewing Co., the franchise system exploded. With 17 open brewpubs and another 60-plus in development, Voodoo Brewing Co. has not only survived the pandemic but managed to launch exponential growth on the heels of it.

“During COVID, so many people saw what it was like to work from home, and have more flexibility– they got a taste of what life could be like. That was the old way, and Voodoo represents that shift in culture. You'll never see someone in a shirt and tie; you'll see them in a tank top, flip-flops, and a beer in hand at noon. And that's Voodoo. It's so refreshing for people who want a simple business, with a product that they know is strong, in a way that brings their community together centered around fun," Dowling said.

With Award-Winning Liquid-Gold on Tap and a Community-Driven Model, Voodoo Brewing Co. Offers a Refreshing Franchise Experience

“Most people love beer. Americans drink half of all beer consumed across the world. People are always going to buy beer– it’s a good, safe segment to be in. But then, coupled with it, Voodoo is just fun. You get to bring not just any beer, but a world-renowned, award-winning beer to your community,” Dowling said.

Voodoo Brewing Co. offers better beer, and local owners are able to be heroes in the community when they expand distribution to their areas, but it doesn’t stop there. They get to have fun and put their own personal twist on the business, another differentiator that only elevates the consumer experience and drives demand for ownership even further.

With the support of the Voodoo Franchise Group team, franchise partners design the pub itself, a community-specific logo, and local menu customizations for even more individualization and a sense of ownership.

“Every Voodoo that you go into, you’ll know you’re in a Voodoo, but franchisee-driven changes and community-based representations allow our owners and their guests to feel like the brewpub is really theirs,” explained Dowling. “We even go as far as to design a new Voodoo logo for every franchise owner.”

Menu customizations follow a similar process. While Voodoo Brewing Co. has a skeleton menu that most brewpubs offer, owners are able to customize additional offerings to ensure the local community has access to food options that feel like the community they live in.

“My favorite part of this whole process is that there are so many demographics we're working with,” explained Sean Kirzyc, chief culinary officer at Voodoo Brewing Co. “Each market that Voodoo enters has its own culture and food classics. My approach is always to pick a food classic and ask, ‘How do we make it a Voodoo food?’ Maybe elevate it, maybe just add our flair to it.”

Owners also develop networks and uplift fellow small business owners through local sourcing for food and beverage items or ingredients when appropriate, including partnerships with local distilleries, breweries, wineries, bakeries, and butchers. It’s crucial that local owners understand the role they play and what they will be bringing to the community by developing this hub.

Voodoo Brewing Co. owners are encouraged to personalize their brewpubs to better cater to the community, but this individualization is in no way indicative of isolation within the system. In fact, connection and partnership are two themes that drive the franchise model.

“Voodoo isn't pretentious; it's welcoming. We are anti-franchise, and pro-fun – complete with a rockstar team who champions our community-driven culture. Our passion is to see local Voodoo Brewing Co. brew pubs as their local hangout. Our franchisees embody this culture. That’s what Voodoo is more than anything — it’s fun,” said Matteo Rachocki, CEO of Voodoo Brewing Co.

As Voodoo Brewing Co. Continues to Grow, Now Is the Time to Get In

Voodoo Brewing Co. has taken off and is showing no signs of slowing down. 

“We have already sold out the Dallas, Texas market and have established ourselves in other major markets, including Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada; and Knoxville, Tennessee,” explained Rachocki. “But we’re looking to bring Voodoo Beer to communities across the U.S. At this point, we’re only going to award 50 more franchises. Supply is limited relative to demand, and we fully expect to continue along this explosive growth trajectory.”

With limited availability, the Voodoo Franchise Group team is open to working with franchise partners anywhere that there is a demand for a Voodoo's Beer Franchise. However, the same “jockeys” that made Dowling so confident in the concept have proven just how important a passionate team is in addition to a great business model, and the franchisor is looking for a similar fire in its new franchise partners.

“We’re in a position to say no, more than we need to say yes. We are picky. At the end of the day, we need good, quality franchisees who are ready to support each other. This is not a competition; everyone is in this together– Voodoo will rise as a brand when we are together. I would much rather find a franchisee that’s the right person, has the right attitude, and fits the culture, but has absolutely no restaurant or service experience. We can teach that. We can give them the tools they need to be successful as a franchisee,” said Rachocki.

The Voodoo Franchise Group leadership team isn’t looking for buttoned-up entrepreneurs who are only interested in expanding their portfolios. With an eclectic mix of current owners, ranging from law enforcement to investment bankers, Dowling highlights a single common thread: All Voodoo Brewing Co. owners are community-minded.

“Our most successful owners have big financial goals, but that is not their only focus,” said Dowling. “Profit-centric decision making is key, but they also make decisions with the fact that their brewpub is a crucial community hub in mind.”

By bringing their passion and dedication to the table, each Voodoo Brewing Co. owner contributes a unique perspective that further solidifies the no-fuss, laid-back brewpub model that communities love.

“We’re trying to provide a new breed of franchise,” said Dowling, “and it’s cool to see how many people resonate with what our team is building.”

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit the Voodoo Franchising Website: