Voodoo Brewing Co.

<a href="https://1851franchise.com/voodoobrewingco">Voodoo Brewing Co.</a> CEO Matteo Rachocki recently joined CNBC’s “Power Lunch” to discuss the state of the craft beer industry and consumer trends. Despite an overall decline in beer production, the craft beer sector has 420 new breweries opening across the U.S. in 2023, surpassing 385 closures.Something that sets&nbsp;<a href="https://voodoofranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=voodoo-brewing-co-ceo-featured-on-cnbcs-power-lunch-to-discuss-the-state-of-craft-beer-2724538" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Voodoo Brewing Co.</a> apart in the market is its unconventional franchising approach. Rachocki explained that entrepreneurs can benefit from a brewing taproom without the burden of constructing a brewing facility. This unique model challenges the typical ownership structure widely used across the industry.The conversation touched upon the influence of major beer conglomerates like Budweiser and Constellation, which have ventured into producing craft-style beers, creating what Rachocki refers to as "macro craft." However, he noted that consumers are becoming more discerning, demanding transparency about the origin of the product and the companies behind it, marking a trend expected to gain traction in the coming year.The craft beer industry faces emerging competitors, including the rising popularity of non-alcoholic products, seltzers and beverages infused with cannabis. Addressing the challenge of a crowded market, Rachocki acknowledged the overwhelming choices that consumers face. Despite the saturation, he emphasized that there's still room for diversity and innovation, with something out there for everyone.&nbsp;Rachocki also highlighted the importance of convenience when it comes to consumer trends. That’s why Voodoo Brewing Co.’s strategy revolves around creating community establishments that serve as local one-stop-shops for consumer needs.&nbsp;Watch the full segment&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2023/12/20/voodoo-brewing-founder-on-beer-sales-consumer-sentiment-and-competition.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=voodoo-brewing-co-ceo-featured-on-cnbcs-power-lunch-to-discuss-the-state-of-craft-beer-2724538" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>.&nbsp;To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/voodoobrewingco/info">1851franchise.com/voodoobrewingco/info</a>.

Voodoo Brewing Co. CEO Featured on CNBC’s ‘Power Lunch’ to Discuss the State of Craft Beer

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CEO Matteo Rachocki discussed how the brand’s franchising model makes them stand out, what consumers want and emerging competition in the market. 

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<a href="https://www.voodoobrewery.com/">Voodoo Brewing Co.</a> may be known for its craft beer, but the brand is just as focused on what’s coming out of the kitchen.Over time,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/voodoobrewingco/info">Voodoo</a> has intentionally shaped its concept around in-house food preparation and a dining experience that feels welcoming and community-driven. While beer remains an important part of the brand, the restaurant side of the business now plays a central role in how guests experience Voodoo.“In the early days of the craft beer boom, it was very beer-centric,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-volanski-bb19b8a4/">Andrew Volanski</a>, director of franchise operations and liquor. “As we evolved and consumer trends changed, we really adapted and pivoted. The beer is still very important to us and it always will be, but when we started franchising, it became more about the restaurants and the food and creating a whole new experience centered around that.”<h2>A Commitment to Making Everything In-House</h2>One of the biggest differentiators across Voodoo locations is the amount of food prepared from scratch each day.“Everything from beer cheese down to salad dressings and mustard and anything that can be made within the kitchen, we make,” Volanski said. “Nothing is coming frozen out of a bag. We’re hand-cutting the French fries and putting them through a double fry process to make sure they’re the best quality we could possibly get.”Voodoo has team members in its kitchens well before the restaurant opens each day, preparing ingredients and getting everything ready for service. Consumers are paying closer attention to where food comes from, making transparency more important than ever. Guests can see what goes into their food, and nearly everything is made in-house on a daily basis.<h2>Using Natural Ingredients and Avoiding Shortcuts</h2>Voodoo’s ingredient philosophy centers on simplicity and transparency. The brand uses beef tallow in its fryers and avoids high-fructose corn syrup whenever possible. Artificial ingredients and heavy processing aren’t part of the plan.“Using basic, whole ingredients that are natural is better for us as humans,” Volanski said. “When you’re eating good food, you’re going to feel better about it. It becomes a lot easier when you can have an ingredient list that is two lines instead of a novel with a bunch of words that we can’t pronounce.”Those choices connect back to Voodoo’s broader mission. The brand has always aimed to be a place of community, and being part of a community means caring for it. That care extends to being thoughtful about what guests are putting into their bodies and serving food that supports the well-being of the people they serve.<h2>A Core Menu With Room for Local Creativity</h2>While guests will find a consistent core menu at every Voodoo location, franchisees are also encouraged to incorporate a local touch based on regional tastes and chef-driven ideas.“We’re a company based out of Western Pennsylvania, and we’re not naive enough to think we know what people in South Carolina love or what people in Idaho really care about,” Volanski said. “They carry the core menu, but they also have the freedom to showcase what is important to them and their community.”That flexibility allows chefs to express creativity and highlight what they are most passionate about.“At the end of the day, chefs really are artists,” Volanski said. “We want to empower everyone from top to bottom to be able to showcase their art and their craft.”<h2>Familiar Comfort Food With a Twist</h2>Voodoo’s menus are built around approachable comfort food with unexpected touches. “I would call it bar food with a little twist,” Volanski said.&nbsp;Menus feature classic options such as burgers and wings, while also offering familiar favorites that are elevated with creative, unexpected touches. One example is the Voodoo Dill Pickle Pizza, which has become the brand’s top-selling pizza systemwide.“When we introduced it, people were skeptical,” Volanski said. “Why would you put pickles on a pizza? And now it’s our number one selling pizza across the board.”Voodoo also encourages collaboration among its chefs nationwide, creating space for idea-sharing and inspiration. “We take those ideas and turn them into potential chainwide dishes,” Volanski said.&nbsp;In 2026, guests can expect to see more limited-time offerings inspired by chefs within the system.<h2>Food as a Way to Bring People Together</h2>Community remains at the heart of the Voodoo experience, and food plays a major role in that connection.“Where do people gather? It’s around food,” Volanski said. “It becomes a focal point of bringing everyone together around one table.”Many locations feature long, community-style tables where guests can eat, drink, and connect with others.“No matter who you are, where you come from, or who you love, you are a part of the community and this is a place for you,” Volanski said.<h2>More Than a Brewery</h2>While beer remains part of Voodoo’s identity, the brand has become something much broader.“Voodoo Brewing Co. is the name, but it’s way more than beer,” he said. “It’s a restaurant. We have full menus for every palate.”That restaurant-first mindset, combined with scratch-made food and thoughtful ingredients, is shaping how the brand connects with guests and communities across the country. To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/voodoobrewingco">https://1851franchise.com/voodoobrewingco</a>.&nbsp;

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As the franchise continues to grow, Voodoo Brewing Co. is leaning into a restaurant-first experience built on in-house preparation, natural ingredients, and menus designed to bring people together.

How Voodoo Brewing Co. Builds Its Identity Around Scratch-Made Food and Quality Ingredients

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MEADVILLE, Pa.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://www.voodoobrewery.com/">Voodoo Brewing Co.</a> is raising a glass to National Beer Day on April 7 by spotlighting new beer releases, fan-favorite brews and the elevated food and community experience that sets it apart.&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/voodoobrewingco/info">Voodoo</a> has built its reputation on pushing the boundaries of craft beer while expanding into a full-service restaurant concept, and the brand is using the holiday to highlight both its brewing approach and its focus on quality across the guest experience.“At Voodoo, the beer is still very important to us — it always will be — but as we’ve grown, it’s become more about creating a full experience centered around food, community and quality,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-volanski-bb19b8a4/">Andrew Volanski</a>, senior director of operations. “We wanted to take what is normal bar food and take it up a notch, and everything we do reflects that.”For National Beer Day, Voodoo Brewing is highlighting two key releases: Midnight Silhouette, a brand-new porter, and the return of Crick Crusher, an American wheat beer designed to be light, refreshing and highly drinkable.“We have two new beers coming out. One is a porter called Midnight Silhouette, which is a brand-new beer, and then we’re bringing back Crick Crusher, an American wheat,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-h-3792a283/">Jake Hornick</a>, director of operations and quality manager at Voodoo Brewing Co. “That series is really geared toward light, drinkable, sessionable beers that you would enjoy floating down the creek.”The new brews are part of Voodoo’s well-balanced portfolio, which includes bold options as well as approachable beers that appeal to a wide range of drinkers. Whether it’s a lighter beer at 4% ABV or an 8% hazy IPA, there’s something for everyone.&nbsp;The brand’s portfolio includes standout staples like its famous green-colored Lacto-Kooler, a flavor-packed sour that helped put the brand on the map, and Good Vibes, a balanced IPA that remains a go-to for guests.Beyond brewing, Voodoo continues to differentiate itself through its food-first approach and commitment to quality ingredients. House-made sauces and dressings, hand-cut fries and the use of beef tallow instead of seed oils are a few ways that the brand emphasizes transparency and scratch-made preparation across its kitchens.“Nothing is coming frozen out of a bag,” Volanski said. “There are people in our kitchens preparing everything before we open each day, and we’re very transparent about what goes into our food.”As a growing franchise system, Voodoo Brewing blends consistency with local creativity by offering a core menu alongside location-specific “local flair” items.“We’re not naive enough to think we know what every market wants,” Volanski said. “We give our franchise owners the ability to showcase what’s important to their community and let their chefs be creative.”On National Beer Day, several individual locations are expected to introduce their own specials or pairings that reflect local flavors while celebrating the holiday.Whether guests are trying a new seasonal release, enjoying a fan-favorite brew or gathering with friends over scratch-made food, Voodoo Brewing Co. is inviting guests across the country to celebrate National Beer Day together, with great beer, scratch-made food and community at the center.ABOUT VOODOO BREWING CO.More than just a brewery, Voodoo Brewing Co. is a community of passionate beer lovers dedicated to pushing the boundaries of craft beer. Alongside world-renowned “liquid gold,” provided directly from the brewery, local owners offer killer food, craft cocktails and hard seltzer in their community-focused brewpubs. Each location has a customized logo, locally inspired menu and consistent local events, allowing Voodoo Brewing Co. franchise partners to become truly immersed in their communities. With over 20 locations across multiple states, Voodoo Brewing Co. has already captured the hearts of beer enthusiasts nationwide and has proven itself as the fastest-growing brewpub franchise in the world. Now, it is on track to quickly grow roots across the nation. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://voodoofranchising.com/.">https://voodoofranchising.com/.</a>&nbsp;

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Voodoo Brewing Co. will celebrate National Beer Day on April 7 by rolling out new seasonal beers, spotlighting fan favorites and leaning into the community experience that defines the brand.

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As&nbsp;<a href="https://www.voodoobrewery.com/about">Voodoo Franchise Group</a> accelerates its national expansion, the brewpub franchise is giving its owners new tools to deepen relationships with guests who already know the brand and its beer best.&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/voodoobrewingco/info">Voodoo</a> recently launched a new loyalty program designed to drive repeat visits and local engagement across its network of franchised restaurants. The program uses Toast to power in-store rewards and Popmenu to support loyalty in terms of online pickup and delivery (along with built-in text and email marketing capabilities). The new initiative fills a long-standing gap in terms of how the brand connects with its most engaged customers.“I think it’s a direct line to giving back to people who are loyal to our brand” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-ivey-ph-d-371a0618/">Erik Ivey</a>, chief operating officer. “We haven’t done this in the past. But it’s probably the most important thing we can do right now to really engage the guests we know are loyal members.”<h2>Empowering Franchisees to Market Locally</h2>Voodoo’s franchise model has always leaned into flexibility and local ownership. Each location follows core brand standards but features menus, events and programming shaped by its community, empowering owners looking to build deeper connections at the local level. Until now, however, franchisees lacked a simple way to communicate those local experiences directly to the guests who visit most.But the new loyalty program changes that. It gives Voodoo Franchise Group operators a direct line to their customers, equipping them with the ability to promote everything from new menu items to live music and other weekly events.“We like to call ourselves an ‘anti-franchise’ company because we give freedom to franchise owners,” Ivey said. “We have a core menu, plus local flair menus created by chefs in each community. So, every Voodoo franchise is unique to its market because we’re a unique brand.”<h2>Turning Loyalty Data Into Smarter Decisions</h2>While the new loyalty program operates across both Toast and Popmenu, ease of use has led Voodoo more heavily toward the latter as local franchisees get comfortable with the new marketing efforts (particularly those without dedicated marketing teams).Beyond communication though, the loyalty program is also beginning to generate data that franchise owners can use to make better, smarter marketing decisions. Tracking loyalty member growth and engagement now for several months, Voodoo plans to share the insights gleaned systemwide.“If you’re going to spend money on marketing, would you rather market directly to people already engaged with your business — or send it to the general population with a return rate of less than 1%?” Ivey said. “I’d rather have a higher return by going directly to loyalty members.”<h2>A Franchisee-Driven Approach to Innovation</h2>Early feedback from franchise owners has been positive (especially as they experience clearer engagement and are able to exert more control over how each local community is reached). At a broader level, the loyalty program reflects Voodoo’s franchisee-first approach to innovation. After spending the past year visiting every location and gathering feedback directly from local operators, Voodoo corporate identified guest engagement as a priority.“This didn’t come from a magical idea,” Ivey said. “Franchise owners were asking, ‘How do we better engage our communities? How do we get more people through our doors?’ That led us here.”&nbsp;<h2>The Value of Loyalty</h2>Looking ahead, Ivey said the real value of the loyalty program lies in its ability to turn strong in-store experiences into sustained growth across the greater Voodoo franchise system.“If you bring loyalty members back and they have a great experience, they’ll transfer that experience to people who aren’t members yet,” Ivey said. “That creates upward momentum and more loyalty members over time.”For Voodoo and its franchise owners, that momentum is built not through cookie-cutter marketing, but by giving local operators the tools to keep their communities elevated, engaged and coming back.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/voodoobrewingco">https://1851franchise.com/voodoobrewingco</a>.ABOUT VOODOO BREWING CO.More than just a brewery, Voodoo Brewing Co. is a community of passionate beer lovers dedicated to pushing the boundaries of craft beer. Alongside world-renowned “liquid gold,” provided directly from the brewery, local owners offer killer food, craft cocktails and hard seltzer in their community-focused brewpubs. Each location has a customized logo, locally inspired menu and consistent local events, allowing Voodoo Brewing Co. franchise partners to become truly immersed in their communities. With over 20 locations across multiple states, Voodoo Brewing Co. has already captured the hearts of beer enthusiasts nationwide and has proven itself as the fastest-growing brewpub franchise in the world. Now, it is on track to quickly grow roots across the nation. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://voodoofranchising.com/">https://voodoofranchising.com/</a>.

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The fast-growing craft brewery franchise rolls out a dual-platform loyalty program using Toast and Popmenu to help franchise owners increase repeat visits and strengthen local marketing.

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MEADVILLE, Pa.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://www.voodoobrewery.com/">Voodoo Brewing Co.</a> is wrapping up a momentous year marked by substantial expansion, operational improvements and deeper engagement. The craft beer brand ended 2025 with 27 locations nationwide, up from 21 at the start of the year. Reflecting on the growth, Chief Operating Officer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-ivey-ph-d-371a0618/">Erik Ivey</a> said the company approached 2025 with a clear plan to strengthen both relationships and operational foundations.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We came up with a game plan at the beginning of the year to embed ourselves in building relationships, first and foremost with our franchise owners, listening to them, understanding what was going well, what wasn’t and what we needed to do differently,” Ivey said. “We also wanted to listen to our communities and understand how we could improve for them. By the end of 2025, we’d built relationships, redesigned our model, opened quite a few locations, rewarded loyalty and moved in the right direction.”In 2025,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/voodoobrewingco/info">Voodoo</a> launched a loyalty program designed to deepen guest engagement while supporting franchisees in marketing directly to their communities.“It allows us to tell our story to loyalty members, provide offers and engage guests more meaningfully,” Ivey said. “It also attracts more loyalty members.”This year, the company supported franchise owners with training and marketing tools through Popmenu, a platform that streamlines communication with loyalty members and provides actionable data and insights.Voodoo also focused on optimizing its economic model. Underperforming locations were evaluated and supported, resulting in a substantial increase in average unit volume. New openings across smaller communities — including Sneads Ferry, North Carolina; Delafield, Wisconsin; Toledo, Ohio; and Lexington, South Carolina — exceeded expectations, attracting elevated local engagement from the start.Looking ahead to 2026, Voodoo plans to further expand its focus on hospitality and support for Voodoo franchisees. The company will further elevate the guest experience both in-house and through community engagement while providing franchise owners with more tools, resources and continuous support.&nbsp;“We’re emphasizing hospitality in three areas: back-of-house execution, front-of-house guest experience and community engagement outside the four walls,” Ivey said. “We’re focused on making it easier for Voodoo franchisees and guests alike.”&nbsp;By listening to franchise owners and engaging directly at the local level, Voodoo has positioned itself for continued growth (while maintaining the uniquely elevated, community-oriented identity that differentiates the brand in the competitive craft beer and restaurant industry).As 2026 approaches, Voodoo Franchise Group is prepared to continue its expansion trajectory. The new year will also see a focus on innovation and operational excellence. Voodoo will build on last year’s momentum with a focus on improving the guest experience and community connection driven by great beer at each local establishment.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/voodoobrewingco">https://1851franchise.com/voodoobrewingco</a>.ABOUT VOODOO BREWING CO.More than just a brewery, Voodoo Brewing Co. is a community of passionate beer lovers dedicated to pushing the boundaries of craft beer. Alongside world-renowned “liquid gold,” provided directly from the brewery, local owners offer killer food, craft cocktails and hard seltzer in their community-focused brewpubs. Each location has a customized logo, locally inspired menu and consistent local events, allowing Voodoo Brewing Co. franchise partners to become truly immersed in their communities. With over 20 locations across multiple states, Voodoo Brewing Co. has already captured the hearts of beer enthusiasts nationwide and has proven itself as the fastest-growing brewpub franchise in the world. Now, it is on track to quickly grow roots across the nation. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://voodoofranchising.com/">https://voodoofranchising.com/</a>.

The craft beer franchise concludes 2025 with successful expansions, improved unit performance and a new loyalty program, positioning Voodoo for growth, innovation and increased franchisee support.

Voodoo Brewing Co. CEO Featured on CNBC’s ‘Power Lunch’ to Discuss the State of Craft Beer

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