---
title: "Minnie Bird Adds Former Inspire Brands and Chick-fil-A Executive Don Crocker as Advisor, Signs Multi-Unit Agreement with Columbus Operators"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/3b39c40e-283a-4dc9-b66c-a003f88abe6b
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20260814_minnie_bird_adds_former_inspire_brands_and_chickfila_executive_don_crocker_.html
category: "Restaurants"
industry: "Restaurants"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2026-08-14T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T14:43:25.307Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1504674900247-0877df9cc836?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Minnie Bird Adds Former Inspire Brands and Chick-fil-A Executive Don Crocker as Advisor, Signs Multi-Unit Agreement with Columbus Operators

**TL;DR:** Minnie Bird has added Don Crocker, a former Inspire Brands and Chick-fil-A executive, as an advisor and signed a three-unit agreement with Columbus operators Pranay, Ashish, and Bob Patel. The moves are part of the brand's preparation for national growth, following a recent 20-unit agreement in Orlando and Tampa.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2026-08-14. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20260814_minnie_bird_adds_former_inspire_brands_and_chickfila_executive_don_crocker_.html).*

## Story

Together with the recent 20-unit agreement in Orlando and Tampa, the moves reflect a brand assembling the leadership and operator base as it prepares for national growth.

Crocker has more than 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry. He spent 20 years at Chick-fil-A and later held senior roles overseeing real estate across a portfolio of brands, including Arby's, Dunkin', Buffalo Wild Wings, Jimmy John's, Sonic, and Baskin-Robbins. Most recently, he advised on strategy at Smalls Sliders.

As a Strategic Advisor, Crocker will work with Minnie Bird's leadership on strategy, market planning, and franchise partner selection.

"Don has helped build some of the most successful development organizations in the industry," said David Sloan, Co-Founder of Minnie Bird. "He pairs that experience with a genuine focus on franchisee success, and as we grow through franchising, that's exactly what we want in our corner."

"One of the things that attracted me to Minnie Bird is that the team is thinking about growth the right way," said Don Crocker. "They've built a concept around operational simplicity, a premium experience guests genuinely love, and a model designed to create long-term franchisee success. It's still early, which makes this an exciting opportunity to help shape the foundation for sustainable national growth."

The Ohio agreement is with Pranay, Ashish, and Bob Patel, who operate over a dozen restaurants across Subway, Barrio Burrito Bar, and other brands in the greater Columbus market. The group brings more than 25 years of restaurant operating experience, with hands-on ownership and operations across multiple brands. Their experience spans team building and day-to-day operations in competitive markets.

"We've spent years building and operating restaurants in Columbus, so we're careful about what we take on. Minnie Bird stood out — the food is genuinely different, the model is simple to run, and we saw how guests respond to it. We think it has real room to grow here." said Pranay Patel.

The additions build on a team Minnie Bird began assembling earlier this year with the arrival of Julie Price, who joined after leading initiatives for Caribou Coffee.

"Experienced operators are the most discerning partners in franchising, and they're the ones choosing Minnie Bird," said Price. "Bringing in someone of Don's caliber as we grow reflects how seriously we're building for the long term."

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- unit expansion (topic)
- QSR (sector)
- franchise agreement (topic)
- Subway (company)
- Chick-fil-A (company)
- Inspire Brands (company)
- Smalls Sliders (company)
- Caribou Coffee (company)
- national growth (topic)
- Don Crocker (person)
- Barrio Burrito Bar (company)

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Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20260814_minnie_bird_adds_former_inspire_brands_and_chickfila_executive_don_crocker_.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/3b39c40e-283a-4dc9-b66c-a003f88abe6b).