Franchisee Spotlight: Todd Fetter of Buffalo Wings & Rings

Franchisee Todd Fetter was raised in Waynesfield, Ohio and attended college for a few semesters before starting a family in 1985. He and his wife, Audra, have five children. Fetter currently owns seven units, and is looking at additional options to grow with the Buffalo Wings & Rings brand.

Fetter has always had an entrepreneurial spirit; he owned a manufacturing business before entering the e-coating and powdering industry, and grew the company into 2 locations with 150 employees. He sold his share of the business in 2008 and began looking for a new venture to invest in alongside another manufacturing business that Fetter still owned.

Based on his family’s common interest in sports and wings, Fetter started looking for a wing joint, and came across BWR. “I liked that the corporate headquarters are in Cincinnati, which means they’re close for training and support,” Fetter said. “I went to several stores to eat and check things out, and found that everything was great.” Although Fetter signed an agreement with the brand in 2009, it took four years to find the ideal location for their restaurant.

“We think we’ve turned the page at seven stores, and maybe ten within the year," says Fetter. "So we feel like we’ve turned the page on general managers. We have three general managers in our system who we are planning to pull as our regional managers. We’re starting to really build our infrastructure and our team. We’re looking at what point do we bring an in-house accountant into the fold. At what point do we get to the tipping point? We need a select few right now managing the managers.”

Two of Fetter's sons are involved directly in the business, and he aslo has four grandsons.

“I’m in business with my family, we’re having fun, and we’re building something great for future generations of the Fetter family. I have no exit plan. I have no thoughts of getting out or slowing down. For right now, we don’t have a plan to exit.”

“It starts with the support of the corporate team," adds Fetter. "Without that, we wouldn’t be expanding. I’ve heard horror stories from other franchises about when you sign the franchise agreement, they’re gone.

With Buffalo Wings & Rings, they listen to us when we give feedback. They are there from signing all the way through opening and beyond. They are flexible, but respectful of the brand standards.

I can call up Nader and Philip, the owners, which I don’t think you can do at a Subway, Burger King, or other big corporate franchises. I do know that I’m not looking to move away from this brand. I’m in a comfort zone.

I know what we can do, and I know what the stores can do. I’ll continue to grow because of corporate and the ability of the team around us.”

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