Breakout Session | October 20, 2015 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Real Estate Growth by Numbers
Fast casual restaurants are growing rapidly, but simply blanketing trade areas with locations is sure to backfire. Learn how customer analytics are helping fast casual brands better understand who their customers are and where more potential customers are located in order to open high performing locations and get more out of existing locations.
PANELIST
Casey Askar | Chairman & President | Askar Brands
Casey is the chairman and president of Askar Brands and leads the company’s focus on growth through his experience in franchising, commercial real estate, and food. Askar’s acquisition portfolio includes Papa Romano’s Pizza, CJ’s Brewing Company, Mr. Pita, Stucchi’s Ice Cream, Papa’s Pizza To-Go, Breadeaux Pizza and Blackjack Pizza, which have more than 150 combined locations throughout 17 states and nearly every major region of the U.S. His real estate portfolio includes office complexes and in-line retail centers in excess of 1.5 million square feet. Casey also has significant experience in petroleum distribution and fitness concepts.
Anand Gala | Founder & CEO | Gala Holdings International
Anand is the founder, president and CEO of Gala Holdings International, a diversified holding company with operations in consulting, restaurant development and management, and real estate development and investment. He has spent the past 30 years in various executive capacities within the Restaurant Industry. The Restaurant Division focuses on the development and management of nationally recognized chain restaurants, both franchised and proprietary, throughout the western United States. Current portfolio brands under ownership and operation include Fresh Griller and Famous Dave’s BBQ locations. Prior brands have included: Del Taco, Applebee’s, Jack in the Box and Seattle’s Best Coffee.
Ray Wiley | Co-Founder | Hot Head Burritos
Ray cut his teeth in the restaurant industry during the early years of Pizza Hut when his father owned several stores. Ray later became store manager for concepts such as Pepperoni Express, Domino’s, and Skyline. Supervision of 10 Skyline Chili stores brought Ray to Dayton in 1989, where he purchased his first Subway and was named Regional Franchisee of the year in 2002. In 2007, Ray came up with the idea for Hot Head Burritos and currently owns 13 of the 65 stores. In September, 2015 Ray launched the first store of his next creation – Rapid Fired Pizza, a QSR pizza concept opened. The second Rapid Fired Store is set to open by the end of 2015.
Stephen Polanski | SVP, Sales | Buxton (Moderator)
In his role as SVP of sales, Stephen leads Buxton’s retail and healthcare consulting teams. For more than six years Stephen has worked to build relationships with retail and restaurant clients to help them to get the maximum benefit from customer analytics. Stephen’s clients include Wingstop, Red Wing Shoes, ALFA Insurance, Which Wich and Title Boxing Club. Before joining Buxton, Stephen was a professional golfer. He received his bachelor’s degree in business management from Texas Christian University.
Sponsored by Buxton
